When Epstein Backlash Hits Everwhere — 2/16/26

The casualty list of those prominent figures whose careers have been damaged or destroyed by their connections to convicted pedophile Epstein continues to grow. Last week, Hollywood mega-mogul Casey Wasserman, Goldman Sachs chief legal counsel Kathy Ruemmler, and international investment icon Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem all resigned in disgrace from their positions.  They are just the latest in a steady stream of business, legal, diplomatic, and academic kingpins who have been forced from their jobs because of their encounters with the convicted child abuser who died under mysterious circumstances in a Manhattan prison cell in 2019. 

Almost no corner of American or global affairs has escaped the taint of association with Epstein, with one notable exception: no US politician has been forced from elected office or suffered in any notable way because of their dealings with him. Donald Trump and Bill Clinton both have faced uncomfortable questions about their past friendships with Epstein. But while many Trump supporters are angry about the way the Justice Department has handled the release of the Epstein files, the president himself seems to have avoided any significant political harm. And although Clinton will testify before the House Oversight Committee (which shows about as much interest in interrogating Trump as a Democratic Congress would Clinton), it appears that his most likely penalty will be a fleeting amount of public embarrassment.

The contrast between the two presidents’ evasive maneuvers and the punishment suffered by so many private sector notables is conspicuous. But just as striking is the difference between the manner in which American politicians and their European counterparts with known Epstein ties have been treated by their constituents. The British people seem poised to remove Prime Minister Kier Starmer, who never met Epstein himself but has been castigated for appointing longtime Epstein friend Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the US. Several other European government and diplomatic officials have also been forced out, including former Norwegian Prime Minister and Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland. And of course Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal titles, military titles and official residence for his alleged misconduct with underage girls to whom Epstein had introduced him.

But in this country, politicians remain curiously removed from the crosshairs of populist retribution. While no shortage of candidates and elected officials are working feverishly to weaponize Epstein’s repulsive conduct against their opponents, there is scant evidence that ties to the convicted predator will result in any relevant damage for the targets of those attacks.

Because partisan loyalty appears to supersede moral decency for most American political figures, neither Trump nor Clinton are likely to suffer any serious political consequences. Republican gadflies like Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene are the only GOP officeholders who have called out Trump on his past friendship with Epstein, and just a handful of House Democrats voted to compel Clinton to testify on his association with the felon.

The lack of concern that this country’s politicians feel toward the possible impact of the scandal is apparent every day in Congress. But it was just as evident on the other side of the continent earlier this month when embattled Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was asked about Wasserman’s status as chair of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Committee. The outrage voiced by Wasserman’s clients, including singer Chappell Roan, soccer legend Abby Wambach, and country artist Orville Peck, was already building and ultimately led to his forced resignation.

But the chief executive of California’s largest city, Bass, sidestepped questions about whether Wasserman should remain in his position, saying only, “Ultimately, any decision on the LA28 leadership must be made by the LA28 Board. As you know, they are a separate and independent nonprofit organization.”

Unfortunately, dodgeball is not a recognized Olympic sport. Bass could have taken the opportunity to criticize Wasserman as the singers and athletes would. She could have expressed her concern about the shadow that Wasserman’s presence could cast on her city’s prized international event. But apparently recognizing that this is a matter without any political cost, she said nothing.

Perhaps it is the remarkably low regard that this country’s voters hold toward their elected leaders, or possibly the ceaseless examples of reprehensible behavior from them to which we have become accustomed. But the lack of meaningful and non-performative outrage in political circles is… outrageous.

Several hours after this column was posted on Monday, Bass told a television interviewer that Wasserman should resign.