Americans are increasingly disheartened by the way 'rich and powerful' associates of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein appear to be evading justice in the United States, according to John Fishwick Jr., a trial lawyer and a former US Attorney for the Western District of Virginia.
The controversy surrounding the release of the so-called 'Epstein Files' has seen powerful people, including European royals, politicians and diplomats, losing their jobs and facing further investigations, but the feeling for many Americans, Fishwick said, is that wealthy U.S. elites will not face the same consequences.
"There's certainly a lot of blame to go around for this. Several administrations had the opportunity to look into the Epstein case and to bring charges not just against him, but against all the folks who were assisting him, aiding him. And then, you know, when you read all these emails of all these rich and powerful folks, certainly alluding to what seems to be very disgusting behavior, and certainly they would have had knowledge of what he was doing with those young girls. So, I do think it's very disheartening to Americans to know that a lot of rich and powerful people looks like they're going to escape prosecution," Fishwick said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
The Epstein files investigation took another dramatic turn on Monday, when Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend and confidant, refused to answer questions in a virtual appearance before a U.S. Congressional committee.
Her lawyer said she would invoke her Fifth Amendment right not to self-incriminate at the committee hearing unless U.S. President Donald Trump pardons her from her 20-year sentence for crimes committed as Epstein’s accomplice.
Fishwick said refusing to speak might make it less likely for Maxwell to have her sentence commuted or receive a full pardon.
"If she comes out and says so-and-so did this or so-and-so did that or didn't do this, I'm not sure she'd be believed. And so why give that person a pardon or commute their sentence? They've been found guilty. Justice was done, presumably in that case. Her appeals have run the course. So, I think in that setting, if I was a prosecutor, you know, I certainly wouldn't want to grant somebody in that situation a pardon or commutation. If they didn't want to testify, then that's their decision," he said.
Fishwick also said that, despite the huge attention being paid to the ongoing Epstein files controversy, criminal investigations of others for participating in the crimes for which Epstein and Maxwell were convicted was unlikely, given the time that has passed.
"It's going to be very difficult because you know, you're going to have to have corroboration about what happened. You know, you can have the victims' testimony, but I don't think they know about all the folks, what happened behind the scenes. They know about Epstein, but he's dead. They know about Maxwell and she's been convicted. And so it's a lot of conjecture about these other folks. We're very suspicious about what they did and what they knew. I think the only charges that could probably come out of this if somebody convenes a grand jury, the DOJ convenes a grand jury and folks go in there and misrepresent what happened. There could be charges for obstruction of justice or for perjury, either to a grand jury or to Congress. But to actually build a trafficking case from something that happened decades ago, I think it's going to be very difficult," he said.
Disheartening that ‘rich and powerful’ Epstein associates could escape punishment in U.S.: legal expert
John Lee, chief executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), on Tuesday welcomed the white paper "Hong Kong: Safeguarding China's National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems" released by the State Council Information Office.
Lee said in a statement that he will fully support and implement the content and requirements of the white paper.
The white paper detailed how the fight for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong is an unrelenting one. Lee said that since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the manipulation of anti-China agitators in Hong Kong and hostile external forces had long stalled legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR, creating destabilizing opportunities.
Today, while Hong Kong is making every effort to boost the economy, pursue development, undertake construction and improve people's livelihood, it must be remembered that national security risks still exist among us and can arise all of a sudden, he added.
The white paper stated that the central government has the fundamental responsibility for national security matters concerning Hong Kong. Lee expressed support and gratefulness for the central government's decisive act at a critical moment in Hong Kong, formulating the national security law in Hong Kong at the state level for the HKSAR's promulgation and implementation locally.
The national security law in Hong Kong ended the state of defenselessness regarding national security that had persisted for over two decades since Hong Kong's return, and ended the "black-clad violence" prevailing in Hong Kong at the time, Lee said, adding that the HKSAR government has been combating acts and activities endangering national security with full force and in accordance with the law, and as a result, order returned to the community.
The white paper illustrated the HKSAR's achievements in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility for safeguarding national security. Lee said that the national security law in Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance function as an integral whole to build a solid shield for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong, effectively protecting the rights and freedoms enjoyed by Hong Kong residents in accordance with the law and providing a solid foundation for Hong Kong's security and development.
The white paper stated that Hong Kong is progressing from disorder to stability and prosperity. Lee said that under the auspices of the national security law in Hong Kong and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, Hong Kong society is stable and prosperous, the normal lives and development of the people of Hong Kong are firmly guaranteed, and international rating agencies continue to give Hong Kong positive assessments.
The white paper laid down the practical requirements of creating high-standard security for the high-quality development of the "one country, two systems." Lee said that Hong Kong must work under the guidance of a holistic approach to national security, firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, safeguarding of national security throughout the entire process of the implementation of the "one country, two systems" principle.
Lee said that security is the prerequisite for development, and development is the guarantee of security. The HKSAR government will steadfastly safeguard national security and promote economic development and is committed to advancing the high-quality development of the cause of "one country, two systems" under the auspices of high-level security, and to achieving high-level security through high-quality development.
HKSAR chief executive welcomes white paper on Hong Kong's efforts in safeguarding national security
