Monica Lewinsky on Epstein Files

In her Vanity Fair piece, Monica Lewinsky draws a parallel between the public's consumption of the Jeffrey Epstein files and the scandal that engulfed her in 1998, questioning the line between being an informed citizen and a digital voyeur. She reflects on the "culture of humiliation" that rewards those who shame others, a phenomenon she experienced firsthand. Lewinsky describes herself as "Patient Zero" of losing a personal reputation on a global scale almost instantaneously, long before the age of social media. This experience, she argues, provides a unique lens through which to view the public's fascination with the details of the Epstein case and the individuals named in the documents. The recently released Epstein files consist of over 3 million pages, including thousands of videos and images. These documents detail Epstein's network of powerful associates and have led to multiple investigations into individuals connected to him. In her essay, Lewinsky astutely notes, "In the cruel calculus of grooming, what may appear as consent… is usually the outcome of slow-burn manipulation. It's a con job. It's dependency posing as affection, coercion masquerading as choice." This speaks to the methods used by Epstein and his associates to exploit their victims. The U.S. Department of Justice defines grooming as a method used by offenders to build trust with a child and the adults around them to gain access and time alone. Psychologists have outlined five stages of grooming, which include selecting a vulnerable victim, gaining their trust, and desensitizing them to sexual contact. Flight logs from Epstein's private jets show over 1,000 unique passengers, and legal proceedings have identified over 80 victims. The sheer scale of his operation highlights the systemic nature of the abuse and the environment of complicity that allowed it to continue for decades. Since re-emerging into public life, Lewinsky has become a vocal advocate against cyberbullying and public shaming, delivering a widely-viewed TED talk on "The Price of Shame." Her work focuses on promoting a more compassionate internet and supporting victims of online harassment. Through the lens of the #MeToo movement, Lewinsky has re-evaluated her own experiences with power dynamics, stating that she now sees how problematic the vast power differential was between a president and a White House intern. This informs her perspective on the abuse of authority inherent in the Epstein case.