I had a good friend that was accused of sexual harassment

[tulipsandroses]

The first time he was accused, like everyone else that knew him, I defended him. There is no way he could have done this. He is being set up.
(This was happening at work) I said he was being set up by someone that was out to get him. Then there was a 2nd accusation. It was still hard to believe. By this time I was having doubts, but I thought he was an " easy target" - very friendly, like a big brother to me and so many others. But I was still uneasy, and started to rethink my stance - Then there was a 3rd accusation - caught on tape. There was no denying it.
He still tried to lie his way out of that one. He quit before he could be fired.
After hearing about the video, I never spoke to him again. I never called him. He called me once to explain himself and I did not take his call. He left me a message and I never called him back.
Not only did I not want anything to with him, I felt so betrayed. I felt lied to. I felt that I had been used as well, to give him some legitimacy amongst those he ended up harassing.
My point in this, is all these people that had so much contact with Epstein that claimed they had no idea are lying. Everyone reacts differently, but think about how you would feel if someone you were friends with did something so heinous, how would you feel about it? Not only would you be repulsed, as I was, I think many people would have the same reaction of a sense of betrayal and hurt - realizing that the friendship you thought you had was all a lie because this person was not who you thought at all.
That appears to be missing from all these folks that claim they had no idea what Epstein was up to. The others that continued their friendship after knowing what he did have no excuse other than they are also involved, corrupt in some other way and did not mind being friends with this repulsive person for financial gain.

[Shellback Squid]

1. predators have a process and it's well thought out

[womanofthehills]

2. Psychopaths can be charming

Till they aren’t.

[yardwork]

3. I experienced something a little bit similar to you.

It wasn't sexual harassment but it was along those lines. The person attempted to mislead and manipulate me and others to defend them. When I learned what they had actually done I was shocked and felt betrayed. I cut all contact.

And this wasn't even at the level you experienced, much less being convicted of raping children (which is what "soliciting sex with a minor" literally is).

Anybody who was still friendly with Epstein after that has explaining to do, imo. Were they really that uninformed and clueless? These royal socialites, politicians, diplomats, leaders of innovation and industry? I think not.

[EdmondDantes_]

4. I wonder how much was the money/access he had

And that he was able to finagle that 13 month sentence making it seem like he couldn't have been doing anything that wrong.

But yes, you would think pleading guilty for child prostitution would result in a lot of unanswered phone calls.

You're hardly alone in giving the wrong person the benefit of the doubt, I've definitely done it for a guy who went on to kill his family. It's easier than many of us think. Abusers are often very good at putting on the good face in public.

[greatauntoftriplets]

5. I have a cousin who is a registered sex offender in the State of Florida.

Apparently, he got off on looking at online kiddie porn. He's nearly 86, and I can't recall the last time I saw him. He started out as a grade school teacher in Chicago, then owned a hardware store downtown. His wife's job saw them transferred to New York. They eventually retired to Florida.

They have to have made good money over the years, yet they now live in a manufactured home that Zillow values at $121,000. His legal bills must have been enormous, and I think that he served time in prison.

I want nothing to do with him because I'm repulsed by what he did. Yet some other family members are far more forgiving of what he did. I don't get it. It's sick.

Epstein's and drumpf's crimes were far worse. All of them are unforgivable to me.

[Marie Marie]

6. In Epstein's case, the people who were in constant and close contact with him not only knew,

but were likely participating in Epstein's trafficking and abuse. They are lying if they say otherwise.

[Jarqui]

7. I can't imagine how the victims feel

Various DoJs have done almost nothing except expose innocent victims

Bondi's DoJ won't even speak to them.

No words ...

[live love laugh]

8. There's a big difference between repeated contact over a decade (Trump)

vs. a few trips where things may or may not have been as obvious. If there was hard evidence on Clinton I believe it would definitely already be exposed.

As for the behavior of the coworker, it just reminded me how deviant people will seek out those who they think are stupid enough to believe that they are innocent even when they know they are guilty. I hate liars.