“The Hunt” was released in March 2020. While watching it, one felt nauseous at the wealthy people, who hunted a group of strangers, killing them for fun. The movie satirised political polarisation, media narratives and class conflict.

The core theme was contained in the following six-word dialogue, spoken by the character Athena (Hillary Swank):

“People like you are the problem”.

This one line captures the ideological hatred of the elites against individuals who are not human as per their definition, thus justifying dehumanisation.

But it was still a movie. I could not, in my wildest imagination, think that at that time, a volcano was sweltering, which, when it erupted, would send shock waves across the world.

Jeffrey Epstein was found dead on 10 August 2019 in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre, New York (rumours persist to this day that he was murdered and did not commit suicide). But the recent publishing of the Epstein files by the Department of Justice in the USA has given him a rebirth. They have dealt a heavy blow to public confidence.

It is very difficult to read and stay unaffected by the disturbing allegations linked with business leaders, politicians, royalty, academics, celebrities and others, who were expected to exhibit a high moral standard.

Jeffrey, with the assistance of his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, operated a trafficking network of underage girls, since the 1990s (some reports say even babies), for the pleasure of the above-mentioned elite. What is more shocking is that this banality was indulged in by people of eminence on private islands.

Many of them have daughters, but that did not stop them from this depravity. And to add to this sad tale of debauchery, there was no law-enforcement agency which acted to put a stop to this depraved predation in time (it ended in 2022, with the sentencing of Maxwell to 20 years’ imprisonment).

The world does not need another lecture in morality from anyone. It needs transparency, procedural integrity and moral consistency across borders

The world does not need another lecture in morality from anyone. It needs transparency, procedural integrity and moral consistency across borders

Starting from Magna Carta in 1215, Western civilisation has portrayed the rule of law for everyone as the cornerstone of progress. After the American Revolution, modern democratic systems have projected the idea that institutions remain strong because scrutiny is allowed and accountability mechanisms exist. Western societies after World War II posited the rule of law, transparency and media oversight as central pillars of governance.

Nations were lectured. Governments that refused to follow were sanctioned. Western media prided itself on being the fourth pillar and a watchdog on the elite. Countries were graded on transparency indices, with the sermon that no one was above the law.

High-profile scandals do not only expose individual wrongdoing. They test whether powerful networks are treated the same way as ordinary citizens. The Epstein case has evolved into one such stress test, raising uncomfortable questions about influence, access and the uneven application of legal scrutiny.

In recent years, public debate has shifted from philosophical discussions about civilisation towards a more practical examination of how elite ecosystems function. Wealth, philanthropy, media access and political proximity often create layers of insulation around influential individuals. When these layers overlap, institutions may appear hesitant, cautious or slow in responding, which fuels public distrust even when legal processes are ongoing.

The real question is not only that such horrendous acts narrated in the Epstein files happened, but also how the guardians of morality become indistinguishable from the violators of it? Would it be unfair to question whether the muted response and tightly managed aftermath reflect the difficulty institutions face when allegations intersect with power, influence and global visibility?

The Epstein chronicle has exposed a deeper structural dilemma rather than a simple moral collapse. When legal risk, political sensitivity and media liability converge, coverage often becomes cautious, language becomes restrained, and accountability appears slower than public expectations.

The paradox is deafening. If the rule of law is sacred, then should it not apply more stringently to the elite? If democracy is the gold standard, then how can transparency be perceived as selective? If the Western media is morally superior, then why does investigative momentum fluctuate when powerful networks are involved? To put it simply, doesn’t this episode exhibit the physical manifestation of power operating within layers of protection rather than outside the law entirely?

When elites become insulated from consequences, when money and power shield wrongdoing, when institutions hesitate from taking the correct and timely action, then the social contract starts to fracture. The highest cost of this incident is the loss of institutions, replacing citizenship with cynicism.

The promise of equality before the law is facing its most serious challenge. The real test is not whether scandals emerge, but whether institutions demonstrate consistency as they do for common people.

The world does not need another lecture in morality from anyone. It needs transparency, procedural integrity and moral consistency across borders.

This will determine whether this saga becomes a footnote in scandal or a turning point in institutional credibility. The time to act is now.

© The Friday Times