Washington, United States. Most Americans believe wealthy and powerful people are rarely held accountable, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found following the release of millions of records on Jeffrey Epstein’s connections in elite U.S. circles.
Poll findings on accountability
Some 69% of respondents in the four-day poll, which concluded on Monday, said their views were captured “very well” or “extremely well” by a statement that the Epstein files “show that powerful people in the U.S. are rarely held accountable for their actions.” Another 17% said the statement described their views “somewhat well,” while 11% said it did not reflect their thinking.
Among both Republicans and Democrats, more than 80% said the statement described their thinking at least somewhat well.
Document releases and case background
Under congressional orders, the U.S. Justice Department has released documents that tie the late financier to prominent people in politics, finance, academia and business, both before and after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges, including soliciting an underage girl.
Epstein died in 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell following his arrest on charges of sex trafficking of minors, and his death was ruled a suicide.
Political impact and resignations
The disclosures have been a persistent political issue for President Donald Trump, who previously promoted suspicions around Epstein and has faced criticism that his administration was not fully disclosing what the U.S. government knew about the case.
Executives at Goldman Sachs and Hyatt Hotels have resigned following the disclosures.
Officials named in records
Others have retained powerful posts. Emails show Trump’s Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick apparently visited Epstein’s private island for lunch in 2012 and invited him to a fundraiser in 2015 for Hillary Clinton, Trump’s Democratic rival in the 2016 presidential election.
Justice Department documents show Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, emailed an invitation to a Valentine’s Day party in 2016 to Epstein.
Neither Lutnick nor Oz is accused of wrongdoing.
Trump’s past ties to Epstein
Trump, who socialized with Epstein in the 1990s and 2000s, has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes and said he broke off ties in the early 2000s, before Epstein’s plea deal.
Do you think the Epstein document releases will lead to more resignations or legal scrutiny of prominent figures?
