UN experts say Epstein files point to possible crimes against humanity
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Millions of files linked to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein may indicate the existence of a global criminal enterprise whose actions could meet the legal threshold of crimes against humanity, according to independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council.
In a statement, the experts said documents released by the US Justice Department describe crimes committed against women and girls on a scale and with a systematic and transnational character that could qualify as crimes against humanity under international law. They said the acts were carried out against a backdrop of supremacist beliefs, racism, corruption, and extreme misogyny, and reflected the commodification and dehumanisation of women and girls.
The experts said the allegations outlined in the files warrant an independent, thorough, and impartial investigation. They also called for inquiries into how such crimes were able to continue for years without effective intervention.
The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The release of the files follows a law approved by the US Congress with broad bipartisan support in November, mandating that all Epstein-related documents be made public.
The experts raised concerns about serious compliance failures and flawed redactions that exposed sensitive information about victims. More than 1,200 victims have been identified in the documents released so far.
They said limited disclosure and the failure to broaden investigations have left many survivors feeling retraumatised and subjected to what they described as institutional gaslighting.
The documents have also shed light on Epstein’s links with prominent figures in politics, finance, academia, and business, both before and after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution related charges, including soliciting an underage girl.
Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in 2019 after being arrested again on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors. His death was ruled a suicide.
