Conspiracy theorists feed on distrust in institutions the Epstein files will see them emboldened | Brigid Delaney

"Not so long ago, if you said there was a shadowy cabal of elites who were involved in the sex trafficking of young women and girls and that some of the most famous people in the world were allegedly involved, then you would have been dismissed as a conspiracy theorist. On a certain level, it feels psychologically safe to other people who have conspiracy theories Jon Ronson even wrote a book called Them about extremists and conspiracy theorists."

"Having worked in the media and politics two areas often accused of being in on the conspiracy what I saw instead were people just trying to get through each day and get the basics of their job done, rather than being players in some shadowy network that operated according to hidden rules. People who worked in newsrooms were too disorganised to be part of a global plot! They were too busy trying to get a paper out."

"There are many unsettling and vile elements to the Epstein story, which has now seen former Prince Andrew arrested in the UK on suspicion of misconduct in public office, but one of the most unnerving is that conspiracy theorists may be on to something with this one. For years, the broad outlines of what Epstein was doing were available to anyone who cared to look. Journalists had reported on it. Survivors had spoken. And yet the story kept not quite landing,"

Allegations of a shadowy cabal trafficking young women and girls involving famous figures were long dismissed as paranoid conspiracy. Conspiracy narratives offered psychological comfort by providing coherent explanations for chaotic and disturbing events. Media and political workplaces were often chaotic and disorganised, with staff focused on routine tasks rather than participating in coordinated cover-ups. Detailed reports by journalists and testimonies from survivors about Epstein existed for years, yet the allegations repeatedly failed to prompt sustained accountability. Powerful individuals stayed in positions and collected honours while evidence remained compartmentalised or labelled too strange to fully believe, contributing to continued impunity.

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