I happen to pass by outside Epstein’s mansion, not files

By Alex P. Vidal

“I would have preferred someone else to have been in charge of rescuing this story, but once again life has taught me that my role is to be a witness, not the leading actor.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Midnight Palace

NOW that the United States House Oversight Committee has confirmed receiving more than 95,000 photos from the Jeffrey Epstein estate, I recalled the day when authorities swooped down on the late sex trafficker’s mansion in Manhattan one afternoon six years ago.

The committee, by the way, announced it has reviewed about 25,000 of those images so far, and have released 19 of them. They included images of President Ronald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and former Prince Andrew of U.K.

There were reports Bill Gates was there, as well.

Before it was sold in March 2021 for $51 million, with the proceeds going toward a restitution fund for victims of sex trafficking, I used to pass by the late Epstein’s mansion in the Upper East Side.

When the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and New York Police District (NYPD) first raided the mansion at past five o’clock in the afternoon on July 6, 2019, I was walking on my way to visit a Jewish client at Lennox Hill Radiology on East 77^th Street from East 67^th Street.

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Epstein’s mansion, a townhouse was at 9 East 71st Street, a stone-throw away from where I was walking. Authorities arrived hours after arresting Epstein at Teterboro Airport.

Using a crowbar, agents forcibly entered and once inside, used a saw to open a safe. They conducted a follow-up raid on July 7 and found:

-An “extraordinary volume” of photographs of nude or partially nude young women and girls.

-Piles of US currency and loose diamonds.

-Dozens of CDs and computer hard drives.

-An expired passport with Epstein’s picture but a fake name.

Authorities used the seized items as evidence in the subsequent sex trafficking case against the millionaire, and later in the trial of his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

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Epstein is seen with multiple high-profile figures, none of whom have yet commented, in the first batch of photos released on December 12 by lawmakers.

Many of them have previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to the dead Epstein.

Mr. Trump reportedly appeared in three of the images released on December 12. One image showed him standing next to a woman whose face has been redacted.

Another showed the US president standing next to Epstein while talking to model Ingrid Seynhaeve at a 1997 Victoria’s Secret party in New York – an image that was already publicly available.

A third photo showed Mr. Trump smiling with several women, whose faces have also been redacted, flanked on either side of him.

An additional photo showed an illustrated likeness of the president on red packets next to a sign that reads: “Trump Condom”.

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WE will know this week if the Marcos Jr. administration was really sincere when it announced the indictment and arrest of some VIPs that include congressmen and senators linked to the flood control project anomalies before Christmas Day.

Christmas Day in the Christian world is December 25, a Thursday. We will remember; we won’t forget. We maintain a scorecard.

So far, only the mosquitoes, ants, and worms have landed in jail; and they’re all DPWH bigwigs in nearby regions.

No undersecretary. Mo mayor. No congressman. No senator. No governor. No more?

We will see.

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TOO MUCH TEXTING. In case we didn’t get the message, texting is the new talking. In fact, the average teen sends and receives about 8,900 texts per month, according to the Nielsen Company. That’s almost 300 messages a day. Some psychologists worry that over-texting may cause anxiety and sleep problems.

WHY WOMEN CRY MORE THAN MEN: According to Frey’s research, girls don’t start out as bawling champs–boy and girl babies cry equivalent amounts–but by the first or second grade, boys are beginning to cry less, probably in response to social pressure. Being called a crybaby is more likely to happen to a boy.

WHY WE CRY: Animals, like humans, may cry in pain, but we’re apparently the only creatures who shed emotional tears–probably because they give us an evolutionary advantage, scientists say. They’re an unmistakable SOS, asking the people around us to provide comfort and assistance. (Source: goodhealth)

WHAT WOULD WE DO? It’s late afternoon, and we need a pick-me up. Is it safe to microwave the cold coffee that’s been sitting in the pot since we grabbed a cup at breakfast? YES or NO?

(The author, who is now based New York City, used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)