"Every time the powerful promise transparency, what we really get is a curtain of black ink. The Epstein Files are not just about names on a list — they are a mirror reflecting the rot in our systems. The question is: are we ready to look into that mirror?"

Last month, the US Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated the release of all investigative materials by 19 December 2025. The law required the Justice Department to make all unclassified records public within 30 days, allowing for only narrow exceptions to protect victim privacy, ongoing investigations, or national security.

However, the initial release on the deadline has sparked fierce bipartisan criticism. Lawmakers and victims' advocates have slammed the Trump administration for providing documents that are heavily redacted and incomplete. Despite the President signing the act into law, his administration has remained notably silent on why so much crucial information remains hidden.

The Media’s "Political Storm"

On the other hand, global and Indian media framed the release as a global "storm." News outlets obsessed over sensational details: which world leaders appeared in photos and where the "needle of suspicion" was pointing. As names like Trump and Bill Clinton surfaced, the discourse even spiraled into tangential discussions involving international figures like Modi.

A global atmosphere of fear was manufactured—the fear that a prominent political face might be exposed in a compromising or illegal situation. As seen with the 2025 Transparency Act, the media remains fixated on sensational photos and names, yet the real scandal lies in the structural flaws that allow the powerful to remain untouchable behind redacted files, even as local leaders are shamed for public misconduct.

What is the Epstein Sex Scandal?

The Epstein Sex Scandal was far more than a mere series of crimes; it was a global trafficking network shielded by immense power. Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell operated a professionalized grooming system, utilizing his private jet—infamously dubbed the "Lolita Express"—to transport world leaders, royalty, and business moguls like Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and Bill Gates to his private island for the exploitation of minors.

The scandal is defined by its systemic nature: Epstein allegedly used hidden cameras to film these high-profile guests, creating a blackmail "insurance policy" that granted him decades of impunity. The enduring outrage stems from a systemic failure that protected the elite while silencing victims. From the lenient 2008 plea deal to Epstein's suspicious death in 2019, the case reveals a dual justice system where "national security" is frequently used as a pretext to redact the truth.

Regardless, while the world waits for these "secret files," real-world incidents demonstrate a complete lack of shame among certain leaders. For example, in May 2025, Manohar Lal Dhakad, a local leader from Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, was caught on CCTV engaging in a sexual act on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway. For political leaders who are already comfortable engaging in explicit misconduct in broad daylight on a public highway, "Does the opening of a 'secret file' matter when the culture of impunity has become so bold that it has moved from private islands to public highways?"

The media focuses on the "spice"—the names and the photos—but the true scandal is a system that allows secrecy to protect the powerful while public indecency is reduced to a mere headline.

Post-Mortem of the Revelations: The Weight of Files vs. Ground Reality

The opening of the Epstein files does not seem like a simple "process of justice"; rather, it suggests deep-seated political and strategic conspiracies. Whenever such files are opened, the timing tells the whole story. Here are a few potential conspiracies being discussed by analysts and the public:

Elections and Distraction (The Timing Weapon): Whether it is an election season in the U.S. or a major crisis in India, these files are often released when public attention needs to be diverted from significant failures, such as a collapsing economy or war.

The Theory: Was this file opened so people would debate which celebrity visited which island instead of discussing inflation or unemployment? It is a classic tactic to channel "public anger" elsewhere.

'Selective' Disclosure (The Redaction Game): The greatest conspiracy is that these files are never truly opened in full. Certain names are exposed intentionally to shield even bigger predators.

The Theory: Is this a way to intimidate those currently in power? Essentially, the message is: "If you don't follow our lead, your name will be in the next list—without the black ink." This isn't justice; it is diplomatic blackmail.

Toppling the Old Power Structure: A new power center is emerging globally. The "Old Guard"—veteran politicians, royal families, and traditional billionaires—are now obstacles for new tech giants and current administrations.

The Theory: The Epstein list mostly features the "Old Guard." By opening this list, new power centers aim to destroy the credibility of the old system so that the public loses faith in traditional icons.

'Dead Men Tell No Tales': Epstein’s mysterious death in jail was a conspiracy in itself. Releasing his files now is "safe" for those who know the primary witness is no longer alive to testify.

The Theory: Files are being opened now because the risk of anyone facing "real punishment" is minimal. It is merely a public relations exercise to allow courts and governments to claim, "Look, we tried."

Major Disclosures and Their "Alleged" Impact

Whenever a major file is opened, it feels as though the world is about to change. However, history bears witness to the fact that the system often simply absorbs these waves. This isn't the first time international or national files have been declassified or leaked:

File/Leak	What was it?	What changed in the System?	What did the common man get?
Jeffrey Epstein Files	A sex exploitation network of the elite.	Some big names were disgraced; Prince Andrew was sidelined.	Zero. The justice process is so slow that victims still live in trauma.
WikiLeaks	U.S. war crimes and diplomatic cables.	A global debate on surveillance and privacy began.	Mistrust. People realized governments lie, but no new transparency laws were made.
Panama Papers	Tax evasion and offshore shell companies of the rich.	India’s 'Black Money Act' and stricter global tax norms.	Nothing. Inflation didn't drop; money just moved from one vault to a "legal" one.
Bofors (India)	Allegations of bribery in a HOWITZER gun deal.	Changed the course of Indian politics; corruption became a major issue.	Political Weapon. Defense modernization was delayed for years, affecting security.

Are the Epstein Survivors Getting Justice from This File Release?

I present a few examples here that show how Epstein survivors have expressed deep frustration and disappointment with the government’s handling of the files:

Lisa Phillips: Accused the Department of Justice of “protecting themselves, not the victims.”
Marijke Chartouni: Asked, “If everything is redacted, where is the transparency?”
Attorney Brad Edwards: Representing over 200 victims, called the release inadequate, noting that critical documents are still missing.

Beyond these immediate reactions, a wider range of survivor voices underscores the trauma and systemic failures:

Maria Farmer, one of the earliest whistleblowers: “I reported to Epstein in 1996. The FBI ignored me. Decades later, these files only prove how long survivors were silenced.”
Danielle Bensky: “I am one story of a thousand. Think of that number: 1,000. We are a representation of women across America—different races, religions, and political affiliations—but united in survival.”
Courtroom testimony, 2019: “He robbed me of my dreams, my chance to grow up free. I was just a child.”
Survivors to Congress: At a Capitol Hill press event, women demanded full disclosure, chanting “release the files” and declaring, “This is not a hoax. This is our life.”
December 2025 disclosures: Several survivors told lawmakers they felt “used again” when photos were selectively leaked without warning, saying it retraumatized them.

Did These Revelations Change Society? (The Bitter Question)

Can you tell me did these files increase employment? Did they improve the status of women?

Employment & Economy: Opening files doesn't create jobs or grow the GDP. In fact, leaks like the 'Panama Papers' can scare investors, causing market instability.
Status of Women: The Epstein files show how women are exploited in the corridors of power, but has it made women safer on the streets or in offices? No. It remains a "scandal," not a "systemic reform."
Aviation Sector: Improvements in aviation come from regulation and competition, not scandals. Scandals often lead to airlines shutting down (like Kingfisher), where only the employees suffer the loss.

The "Highway Scandal" vs. Moral Decay

This is your deepest point. When morality is violated openly in society—whether it is public indecency on the streets or the dark secrets of the elite behind closed doors—these files start to feel meaningless. The irony is:

The Media sells these files as "sensational" because they need TRP.
Politicians use these files as "currency" to blackmail one another.
The Common Man views it as "entertainment" because he knows justice is for the paperwork, not for him.

Media Hype vs. The True Face

The media celebrates the files but never performs an Impact Assessment. They never ask how many crores returned after the Panama Papers or how many schools were built with that money. They only ask, "Who is the next name?"

Ultimately, this is a form of "Mud-Management" in politics. It’s a game of: "You pull my dhoti, I'll pull your pajamas!" Politics is no longer a competition of honesty; it’s a competition of filth. It is "Mutually Assured Destruction." The rule is simple: if you flip the pages of my 'Panama,' I will dust off the file of your 'Bofors.' If my name is "parked" at Epstein’s island, yours is on the "waiting list" in the lobby!

This isn't a fight for justice; it's an investment—like a mutual fund. Invest in each other's black deeds to earn a 'return' of lifelong silence. Files are only opened enough to give the opponent a "heart attack," but never enough to perform the "funeral" of the system itself. In power corridors, they call this 'Checks and Balances,' but in reality, it is a game of 'Checkbooks and Balance Sheets.'

Trump is on the list, but so is Clinton. When "titans" from both sides are in the same mud, no one lets the other sink completely. Governments don't open files because they love the "Truth"; they open them because the "Old Lies" have reached their expiry date. The public is given the "lollipop" of a revelation so they forget fundamental questions about education, health, and security while getting lost in a televised game of names.

Conclusion: Systemic Failure vs. Selective Transparency

A "different" angle on the Epstein files suggests the story is less about individual names and more about systemic failure. The secrecy, delayed transparency, and political maneuvering surrounding these files reveal a structural flaw in how we hold the powerful accountable.

The core of the criticism is that despite the "Epstein Files Transparency Act," the government has failed to bring the full truth to light:

Incomplete Files: By the December 19, 2025, deadline, the DOJ released thousands of pages, but many critical sections remain hidden under the guise of "national security" or "victim privacy."
Political Exploitation: The opposition alleges that the administration is only highlighting documents related to its political opponents—such as Bill Clinton—while other powerful figures continue to be protected.

The media today is preoccupied with photos of Bill Clinton at a pool or tracking the whereabouts of Prince Andrew. However, the real scandal is that even with a "Transparency Act" in place, the public is only being shown what is politically convenient.

One more thing: When cases like "Dhakad" come to light, public anger erupts instantly. But when it comes to "systemic filth" like the Epstein case, we simply sit and wait for files to be opened... Why?

Call to Action:

"If scandals only recycle the same mud without reform, then what should true justice look like? Is it about exposing names, or dismantling the structures that keep the powerful untouchable?"