Power and Proximity: Epstein’s Access to the White House Through Steve Bannon (11/27/25)

In July 2019, federal prosecutors filed a response to Jeffrey Epstein’s motion for pretrial release in the criminal case United States v. Jeffrey Epstein, 19 Cr. 490 (RMB). The government’s letter, addressed to Judge Richard Berman, opposed Epstein’s request for release on bail. Prosecutors emphasized that Epstein’s motion, dated July 11, 2019, did not mitigate the serious concerns already raised in their earlier memorandum supporting detention, submitted to Magistrate Judge Pitman on July 8. They argued that Epstein’s wealth, private island, multiple residences, and access to international connections made him an extraordinary flight risk if he were released pending trial.The filing also stressed the severity of the charges—sex trafficking and conspiracy involving underage victims—as well as the strength of the evidence against Epstein, which they said made him highly likely to flee rather than face trial. By attaching and incorporating their original Detention Memo, prosecutors reinforced their position that only pretrial detention could ensure Epstein’s presence in court and the safety of the community. In sum, the government urged Judge Berman to deny Epstein’s release motion and keep him in custody while awaiting trial.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Microsoft Word - 2019-07-12, JE, response to bail release request, final.docxBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

13 Sep 19min

The Epstein–Maxwell prosecutions stand out less for what was done than for what wasn’t. Despite running what clearly looked like an organized criminal enterprise—complete with recruitment networks, financial laundering, and systemic intimidation—neither faced RICO charges, the statute designed specifically for dismantling such operations. Prosecutors routinely use RICO against gangs, cartels, and fraud rings far smaller and less sophisticated, but in this case, they chose narrow charges that framed Epstein as a lone predator and Maxwell as his assistant, rather than leaders of a syndicate. That omission not only limited the narrative but also shielded institutions, banks, and high-profile associates from exposure.This deliberate restraint strengthened suspicions that Epstein was more than just a criminal—that he may have been an asset whose utility outweighed the government’s appetite for full justice. A RICO case would have forced prosecutors to map out the entire enterprise, exposing networks and potentially implicating powerful figures. By avoiding it, the system preserved secrecy, contained fallout, and maintained protection for those in Epstein’s orbit. In the end, justice was partial, and the silence around RICO became the loudest clue of all.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

13 Sep 11min

The Epstein–Maxwell prosecutions stand out less for what was done than for what wasn’t. Despite running what clearly looked like an organized criminal enterprise—complete with recruitment networks, financial laundering, and systemic intimidation—neither faced RICO charges, the statute designed specifically for dismantling such operations. Prosecutors routinely use RICO against gangs, cartels, and fraud rings far smaller and less sophisticated, but in this case, they chose narrow charges that framed Epstein as a lone predator and Maxwell as his assistant, rather than leaders of a syndicate. That omission not only limited the narrative but also shielded institutions, banks, and high-profile associates from exposure.This deliberate restraint strengthened suspicions that Epstein was more than just a criminal—that he may have been an asset whose utility outweighed the government’s appetite for full justice. A RICO case would have forced prosecutors to map out the entire enterprise, exposing networks and potentially implicating powerful figures. By avoiding it, the system preserved secrecy, contained fallout, and maintained protection for those in Epstein’s orbit. In the end, justice was partial, and the silence around RICO became the loudest clue of all.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

13 Sep 15min

Queen Elizabeth II’s unwavering loyalty to Prince Andrew became one of the most glaring blind spots of her reign. Even as the Epstein scandal engulfed her son, forcing him out of royal duties and dragging the monarchy into global humiliation, she continued to shield him with public and private support. From quietly allowing him to keep privileges to reportedly helping fund legal settlements, her steadfastness toward Andrew stood in sharp contrast to the measured distance the palace often kept with other family controversies. For many observers, it was a sign of maternal instinct overriding political judgment — the Queen’s deep affection for her son blinding her to the damage his behavior inflicted on the Crown’s reputation.This loyalty, however, created friction within the family, especially with then-Prince Charles. Charles, ever mindful of the monarchy’s survival and public image, saw Andrew as a liability who needed to be sidelined swiftly and decisively. His push for a tougher line clashed with the Queen’s reluctance to cast her son adrift, causing a rift between mother and heir. The tension revealed an underlying difference in their approaches to the institution: the Queen led with loyalty to family, while Charles prioritized protecting the Crown at any cost. The fallout from Andrew’s disgrace exposed not only Andrew’s recklessness but also the strain it placed on the monarchy’s leadership during a critical moment of transition.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

13 Sep 29min

Sarah Kellen Vickers has long been described as one of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s closest lieutenants, playing a role that survivors say went far beyond that of an assistant. Court testimony and depositions portray her as the gatekeeper at Epstein’s Palm Beach home — the person who scheduled appointments, ushered girls in and out, and kept meticulous records of who was coming and going. Several survivors alleged that she not only arranged their encounters but also prepared massage tables, handed out oils, and sometimes participated in abuse herself. This has led many to view her as a key facilitator in Epstein’s operation, someone who knew exactly what was happening and actively smoothed the process.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

13 Sep 40min

Nadia Marcinkova’s role in Jeffrey Epstein’s world is complicated, and her story is more nuanced than the headlines often suggest. Recruited as a teenager, she was quickly absorbed into Epstein’s circle and presented to some victims as his “sex slave” — even referred to by Epstein as his “Yugoslavian sex slave” in a disturbingly casual way. Multiple survivors alleged that she both participated in and facilitated abuse, which paints her as a perpetrator in some accounts. Yet at the same time, the age at which she was first brought under Epstein’s influence raises serious questions about whether she was herself a victim — manipulated, groomed, and coerced into normalizing abuse until she became part of the machinery.This dual role — simultaneously appearing as both a survivor of exploitation and, later, as someone implicated in perpetuating it — has made her story one of the most difficult to untangle. Unlike others who were clearly in positions of power, Marcinkova’s trajectory blurs the line between agency and coercion. After Epstein’s death, she reinvented herself professionally, founding an aviation company, distancing her public image from the scandal. But the unresolved questions about her early recruitment, her complicity, and whether her actions were those of a willing participant or someone shaped by years of grooming highlight the tragic complexity of Epstein’s network, where victimhood and culpability were often forced to coexist.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

13 Sep 49min

Leslie Groff, a former executive assistant to Jeffrey Epstein, is alleged to have been a central figure in facilitating his criminal enterprise. Groff is accused of managing Epstein’s daily operations, including scheduling appointments and arranging travel, some of which allegedly involved underage girls. Survivors of Epstein’s abuse have identified Groff as a gatekeeper who ensured Epstein’s access to his victims, highlighting her role in maintaining the infrastructure that enabled his predatory behavior. Critics argue that her administrative skills were weaponized to serve Epstein’s illicit activities, raising serious concerns about the extent of her complicity in his crimes.Defenders of Groff suggest that she may not have fully understood the scope of Epstein’s criminal activities, claiming she operated under a professional facade and followed orders without questioning their implications. However, critics contend that her long-term association with Epstein and her active management of his personal affairs indicate at least a willful ignorance, if not direct knowledge, of his abusive conduct. Groff’s role, whether seen as that of an unwitting accomplice or a deliberate enabler, underscores the systemic nature of Epstein’s criminal network, where trusted aides played pivotal roles in insulating him from scrutiny and perpetuating his exploitation.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

13 Sep 34min

Jean-Luc Brunel, the French modeling agent long accused of supplying underage girls to Jeffrey Epstein, was found dead in his cell at La Santé prison in Paris in February 2022. Authorities said he died by hanging, just days after Prince Andrew settled his civil case with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers. Brunel’s death came while he was in pretrial detention facing charges of rape of minors and sexual harassment, and it immediately drew comparisons to Epstein’s own death in a U.S. jail in 2019.His death sparked outrage from survivors and advocates, who argued it robbed them of their day in court and raised further suspicions of powerful networks being protected. French prosecutors insisted there was no evidence of foul play, but the timing and circumstances fueled speculation. For many, Brunel’s death symbolized yet another missed opportunity for full accountability in the Epstein scandal, leaving questions unanswered and reinforcing a pattern of justice cut short just as legal proceedings closed in on key figures.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

13 Sep 42min