UN Experts: Epstein Case Shows Wealth, Power No Shield from Law

Alleged acts in the "Epstein Files" could amount to crimes against humanity, say UN experts.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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UN human rights experts have warned that the large-scale disclosure of materials known as the "Epstein Files" has revealed "disturbing and credible evidence" of what could amount to some of the gravest crimes under international law, including sexual slavery, reproductive violence, enforced disappearance, torture, and femicide. The experts said the patterns reported in the files may meet the legal threshold of crimes against humanity and must be prosecuted in all competent national and international courts.

Why it matters

The Epstein case has exposed the potential involvement of high-profile individuals in an alleged criminal enterprise involving the sexual exploitation of young women and girls. The UN experts' statement underscores the gravity of the allegations and the need to ensure that no one is above the law, regardless of their wealth or power.

The details

The disclosure process stems from the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in November 2025. On January 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice released a major tranche of material comprising more than three million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images. The experts said the reported conduct could amount to sexual slavery, reproductive violence, enforced disappearance, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, and femicide, and that a number of the alleged acts may reasonably meet the legal threshold of crimes against humanity.

  • The Epstein Files Transparency Act was signed into law on November 19, 2025.
  • On January 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice released a major tranche of material from the Epstein Files.

The players

Jeffrey Epstein

A financier who faced criminal investigations in the United States over allegations that he operated a system to recruit and sexually exploit young girls, many of them minors and in vulnerable circumstances. Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 at the age of 66 in a New York jail cell.

Ghislaine Maxwell

Epstein's associate, who was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking and other offenses and sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison.

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What’s next

The UN experts called on governments to conduct independent, thorough, and impartial investigations into the allegations contained in the Epstein Files, and to hold all perpetrators accountable, regardless of their wealth or power.

The takeaway

The Epstein case has exposed the potential involvement of powerful individuals in the alleged sexual exploitation of young women and girls, and the UN experts' statement underscores the need to ensure that no one is above the law, even the wealthy and influential.