I am beginning to think Epstein was entirely self-aware that someday even having met him at a dinner party or fundraiser, even unrelated to sex trafficking, would be poison for anyone beguiled into attending; and that this was the greater goal, to serve to poison the wells of social, scientific and political circles of the West, undermining trust in all aspects of power structures and institutions. Genius long-game by Mossad, FSB or whomever his masters were.

[–] sundray@lemmus.org 3 points 14 hours ago

I mean maybe, but he also looks to me like a clout-chasing narcissist who had absolute belief in his own intelligence, power, and influence. People like that tend to try to surround themselves with others who flatter their self-image, so they can "casually" drop stuff into conversations like, "You know, I was just talking to Steven Pinker the other day," or, "That reminds me of something Noam Chomsky once told me..."

What's shocking to me is just how many scientists, academics, and other allegedly smart kept asking Epstein for advice about shit, even though he was merely a lucky idiot who they knew was also a convicted sex offender.