When the U.S. Department of Justice released additional troves of documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein, the reaction was immediate and visceral.

The shock was not about Epstein himself. His criminality had already been established in court. What unsettled the public was something else entirely: proximity. From former British royal Prince Andrew to former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump; from tech billionaire Elon Musk to Virgin Group founder Richard Branson; from former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, the newly released files, as summarized by the Associated Press, include correspondence, flight logs and social exchanges linking Epstein to an extraordinary roster of powerful figures.

None of these individuals have been charged with crimes related to Epstein’s trafficking operation, and all have denied wrongdoing. That legal reality is essential. Yet the appearance of such names within official investigative materials has triggered a deeper moral discomfort, one that extends beyond courtroom proceedings. The Associated Press described the files as a “who’s who of powerful men” appearing in emails, invitations, photographs or scheduling records tied to Epstein. Prince Andrew, long scrutinized over his relationship with Epstein, settled a civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre while continuing to deny any wrongdoing. Bill Clinton acknowledged flying on Epstein’s plane years before the financier’s final arrest but has denied knowledge of criminal behavior. Donald Trump has similarly acknowledged a past social relationship while denying awareness of abuse. Elon Musk has publicly stated that he declined invitations to Epstein’s island. Richard Branson’s company emphasized that........

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