Epstein’s sex crimes and his power politics are inextricable. Sexual violence in general, and child sexual assault in particular, are crimes heavily influenced by status and by a sense of othering the victims. Not only was Epstein’s power network clearly based in large part around his sex trafficking and subsequent tacit or explicit blackmail, but the psychology of those who view and wield power in that manner is itself abusive. We are stupid to think that the people who will burn babies to death with incendiaries for financial and political gain would scruple to commit acts of extreme violence on them for personal gratification.