No accountability

What the Epstein files have revealed has dismayed many ordinary Americans about the US system.

One New York Times reader said the case revealed a "fundamentally rotten business culture" — a comment that got over 4,100 likes.

"It was the rich who made Epstein in their likeness and image, to serve their foul desires. His butler's job as a procurer and pimp was simply to interpret the fickle predatory desires of his rich 'betters'," wrote another NYT reader, calling Epstein "the personification of the capitalist ruling class and their patriarchy".

"It's maddening there's no accountability for all the other rich men Epstein was trafficking women to and working shady financial deals with," said another reader.

Some online comments noted that in Europe, people associated with Epstein are facing consequences voluntarily or otherwise, but in the US, those people are mostly "weaseling out of any responsibility".

"In the United States, politicians and many high-powered business executives have lost the capacity to feel shame. They can do whatever they want, with no consequences," said an online comment.

Democratic Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff said that the US is being ruled by "the Epstein class".

"You remember we were told that MAGA was for working-class Americans," he said last Saturday at a public rally in Atlanta. "But this is a government of, by, and for the ultra-rich. It is the wealthiest cabinet ever. This is the Epstein class, ruling our country. They are the elites they pretend to hate."

mayzhou@chinadailyusa.com