Public discourse on the Epstein files often conflates involvement levels. It is critical to differentiate between those who committed crimes, those showing poor judgment by associating with a known predator, and those merely present without ill intent. Each tier demands a distinct societal response, from prosecution to public scrutiny to nuance.

It is plausible that many of Epstein's powerful associates didn't witness his crimes firsthand but instead engaged in willful ignorance. For convenience and access, they may have dismissed credible rumors and maintained the relationship, allowing them to benefit from the connection without confronting the grim reality of his actions.

The Epstein scandal's potential to implicate powerful figures has given it disproportionate political influence. The threat of damaging revelations acts as a hidden force shaping high-level government actions, from influencing congressional votes to orchestrating diversionary PR stunts, effectively making a deceased criminal a major political actor.

Michael Tracey asserts that the most sensational aspects of the Epstein story, like the global blackmail ring, originate from a small number of mentally unwell accusers. He points to recanted testimonies and inconsistencies as reasons to question the foundation of the entire narrative.

The documents suggest that for the elite circles surrounding Epstein, blackmail was not a rare, sinister act but a commonplace, almost casual, mechanism for gaining leverage and maintaining influence over powerful individuals.

It is more plausible that Epstein's network consisted of powerful men engaged in "piggish" but legal behavior—like affairs with young adult models—rather than a large cabal sharing his specific criminal appetite for underage girls. This is an embarrassing and unethical level of association, but distinct from direct criminal complicity.

Journalist Michael Tracey argues the dominant Epstein story is a form of "mythology," driven by a media frenzy, unreliable narrators, and perverse algorithmic incentives, rather than hard evidence. He compares its structure and spread to historical hysterias like the Satanic Panic.

Contrary to popular belief, Jeffrey Epstein did not name his private jet the "Lolita Express." This moniker was invented by a British tabloid. The myth's persistence helps construct a false narrative of explicit complicity for anyone who ever flew on the plane.

The widely circulated claim of "over 1,000" Epstein victims, originating from an FBI/DOJ memo, is a fraud. Michael Tracey points to FBI memoranda within the Epstein files that admit this total improperly includes family members and adults, not just underage victims.