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Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (Netflix)
This dark, disturbing documentary about Jeffrey Epstein is still high in the streaming charts following the arrest of his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell (right, with Epstein).
As the series reminds us, Epstein’s friend Donald Trump once said of him: ‘I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.’
Epstein’s victims, several of whom are interviewed at length here, can attest to his interest in young girls. Some were only 14 when first raped by him. Over four episodes, the series looks at the murky origins of the billionaire’s fortune, the way in which he built what one lawyer describes as a ‘molestation pyramid scheme’ by recruiting kids for sex, and then paying them to bring their friends to him, and his eventual downfall.
It’s not an easy watch. Victims tell of his devastating impact on their lives and of the battle to have their stories taken seriously. Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew, is among the contributors.
For a long time, Epstein was mysteriously untouchable and had the power to make inconvenient investigations go away. He committed suicide in prison last year, giving conspiracy theorists a field day, while Ghislaine Maxwell, of whom we hear a great deal, is awaiting trial.
Some Netflix documentaries really wring their subject dry. This one feels as though it’s barely scratched the surface.