This was one of those moments in Washington designed for maximum drama. All eyes were on Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former fixer, as he testified before a House committee in 2019 about his infamous ex-boss. Democratic Representative Stacey Plaskett sat at the dais, getting ready with her questions. Cameras caught her texting someone on her phone during the hearing. This week, we learned who was on the other end of that conversation: convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was coaching her questions in real time. After Plaskett asked Cohen about a Trump Organization employee—apparently at Epstein's suggestion—he texted back two words that now haunt the moment: "Good Work."
The People Collector
The revelation about Plaskett came from a massive document dump. Over 20,000 pages of Epstein's personal emails and messages were released by his estate under subpoena. This trove shows an unsettling picture of a man who kept elite social circles long after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution, and even after a damning 2018 investigation by the Miami Herald exposed how he sexually abused underage girls on his private island in the US Virgin Islands. Plaskett has strongly denied seeking Epstein's advice, saying she texted many people that day and that as a former lawyer, she learned to gather information from all sources—even ones she didn't like. She noted Epstein was one of her constituents and emphasized that their exchange happened before his 2019 arrest for sex trafficking. But it occurred long after his conviction, and after serious journalism had revealed the extent of his crimes. "I am disgusted by Epstein's deviant behavior. I strongly support his victims and admire their courage," Plaskett said in a statement to the BBC. "I have long believed and supported that all the Epstein files should be released." Yet the uncomfortable question remains: Why was a sitting member of Congress texting with a registered sex offender during one of Washington's most high-profile hearings?The Diabolical Genius
"He was a diabolical monster, but at the same time, he was brilliant because he maintained this incredible network of some of the world's most powerful individuals," said Barry Levine, author of "The Spider: Inside the Criminal Web of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell." "He had a certain charisma that made people turn to him." Epstein saw himself as a "people collector," Levine explained—someone who formed connections for purely transactional purposes. Every relationship was an investment, each conversation a deposit in a bank of future favors. "He would use information he gained with the intention that he was going to bank either favors, money, or, in a darker sense, blackmail from some of these individuals." This strategy worked with terrifying effectiveness. The newly released documents show Epstein kept an eclectic network of distinguished scholars, business leaders, and politicians—people who should have known better, people who claim they didn't know, and people who may have simply looked the other way.
The British Connection
The connection between Epstein and UK Labour's Lord Peter Mandelson has drawn particular scrutiny. Documents show Mandelson stayed in contact with the convicted pedophile until late 2016, years after Epstein's criminal record became public knowledge. In November 2015, Epstein wished him a happy birthday: "63 years old. You made it." Mandelson replied less than 90 minutes later: "Just. I have decided to extend my life by spending more of it in the US." The tone was warm, familiar, and friendly—hardly what you'd expect between a respected British politician and a known sex offender. The fallout was severe: Mandelson was ultimately fired in September from his role as the UK's ambassador to the United States. He has strongly denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes or any wrongdoing, expressing regret over continuing to communicate with him. However, the damage to his reputation may prove irreparable.The Scholar and the Predator
The Harvard Connection
Former US Treasury Secretary and Harvard President Larry Summers also found himself caught in Epstein's web, asking the convicted sex offender for romantic advice in messages that now feel deeply embarrassing. In November 2018—the same month the Miami Herald published its explosive investigation into Epstein's abuse—Summers appeared to forward an email from a woman to Epstein, asking how he should respond. Epstein's reply was characteristically crude: "She's already beginning to sound needy :) nice." The disclosure of these interactions came back to haunt Summers last week, prompting him to announce he was stepping back from public commitments and stopping his teaching at Harvard. "I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused," Summers said.The Money Magician
The Power of Selective Memory
Levine suggests that some casual acquaintances genuinely may not have known the full extent of Epstein's crimes, or were impressed enough by his influential connections to overlook what they did know. "People forget things," he said. "His credentials among power brokers were extremely high, and I think a lot of individuals probably just dismissed his conviction." It's a generous interpretation—perhaps too generous. In the age of Google, claiming ignorance about a high-profile sex offender's conviction requires a level of willful blindness that's hard to justify.The Ones Who Said No
The Uncomfortable Truth
The 20,000 pages of documents reveal an uncomfortable truth about power in America. It's not just that Epstein managed to keep his network after his criminal conviction; many in his orbit seemed to actively avoid confronting what that conviction meant. "Each and every one of them regrets the day they communicated with Jeffrey Epstein or spent time with him," Levine said. "It is one of the most unbelievable stories of our time—power, privilege, predation." Many people whose names appear in the documents will feel embarrassed, though that doesn't mean they participated in Epstein's crimes. What it does suggest is a moral failing at the core of elite circles—a readiness to overlook almost anything when money, influence, or connections are at stake. Six months after his exchange with Stacey Plaskett, Epstein was found dead in his prison cell—a suicide ruled by the medical examiner, although conspiracy theories continue to circulate. His death triggered a reckoning that has sent shockwaves through Washington and Wall Street, taking down some of his former associates. But the documents reveal that reckoning came far too late for far too many. For years after his conviction, Epstein remained what he'd always been—a people collector with a rare ability to make the powerful feel they needed him more than they needed their principles. The question isn't why the rich and powerful couldn't say no to Epstein. It's why so many never even tried. If you have information about Jeffrey Epstein's network or activities, you can contact the FBI or local law enforcement. Support is available for survivors of sexual abuse through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).