Politics
Finkelstein features in Epstein files with swift rejection
Anti-Zionist academic Professor Norman Finkelstein appears in the latest release of Epstein files – and comes out rejecting the paedophiles overtures.
Robert Trivers is an academic who defended Epstein as a “person of integrity” even after Epstein’s conviction for child rape. He also took cash from Epstein. The Epstein files show Trivers was in the habit of ‘cc-ing’ Finkelstein into emails with Epstein on topics he thought might be interesting to both. Given his later provision to Epstein of personal information on Finkelstein, this may have been a way of trying to establish contact between the pair of them.
For example, Trivers wrote to Epstein describing Epstein’s lawyer, Alan Dershowitz as a “Jewish Nazi” when Dershowitz was having dinner with “Narcissistic Psychopath” Donald Trump. Finkelstein was among the other addressees:
There is no indication in the files that Finkelstein ever asked for or welcomed the contacts. The opposite, in fact.
Finkelstein mentioned in Epstein files
In 2015, Trivers received an email from academic and author Prof Joseph Chaney. Chaney castigated Trivers for not just endorsing Epstein, but blaming Epstein’s victims for what they suffered. Chaney also shines for his humanity and readiness to speak out and call Epstein what he was – a rapist and paedophile:
I was shocked to read your statement yesterday in The Guardian. The paper reports:
At least two grant recipients in academia are standing by Epstein, saying he remains a friend: Krauss and Robert Trivers, a Rutgers University biologist.
Trivers said Epstein is a person of integrity who should be given credit for serving time in prison and for settling civil lawsuits brought by women who said they were abused.
“Did he get an easy deal? Did he buy himself a light sentence? Well, yes, probably, compared to what you or I would get, but he did get locked up,” Trivers said. He said he got about $40,000 from Epstein to study the relationship between knee symmetry and sprinting ability.
Trivers also said he believes girls mature earlier than in the past. “By the time they’re 14 or 15, they’re like grown women were 60 years ago, so I don’t see these acts as so heinous,” he said.
The article in question can be read here.
Chaney takes Trivers obscene comments to task:
Is this claim regarding teenage girls your scientific opinion? If so, I’d like to see the research supporting your idea that a girl of 14 is as mature emotionally and psychologically as an adult woman in the 1950s. The real problem with the statement, though, is the way in which it places blame for child abuse on the child and excuses the criminal actions of an adult sexual predator, a man who was a serial rapist of children.
Your claim about 14- and 15-year-olds is clearly wrong in the legal sense; but it is also wrong, and dangerous, as a claim about maturity. Any parent of a teenager can tell you that teens are not like adults. They have not yet internalized a sense of authority. They still depend largely on the judgment and guidance of adults who praised them for their obedience more than for their independence of mind.
This means that they are too easily impressed by and manipulated by adults, especially those whom they view as important and powerful. Teenage girls, no matter how capable of sexual activity they may be, are not yet morally responsible persons. They are a vulnerable class of people that the law rightly protects from potential predators and abusers.
I believe that your affection for Jeffrey Epstein has led you to make light of his heinous crimes. Have you read the report of the original police investigation on him? If not, I urge you to read it before you make further public statements in defense of his reputation. The powerful consistency of the evidence in the Probable Cause Affidavit should give you pause.
The police record will reveal to you that Mr. Epstein is not a “person of integrity.” Appearances can be deceiving!
I believe that your statement to the press was harmful. In a news report, once you are identified as a scientist from a prestigious university, people assume that you are speaking with the authority of a scientist and the backing of your institution and not simply as a private citizen. You represent Rutgers University, and also, by extension, academia. People (for instance, the parents of our students) are very sensitive to these issues.
As a professor, I also am sensitive to this issue. Your statement, with its suggestion that the girl victims are partly to blame for the abuse they received at the hands of your friend, reflects badly on all of us. I hope you will issue a public apology and retraction.
Trivers was not impressed. He forwarded Chaney’s message to Epstein – and included Finkelstein – quipping:
damn, i thought a “heinous crime” was the US invasion of Iraq 2003 or at least murder, rape and pillage?
Finkelstein fired back with a damning quote from one of Epstein’s child victims. He added that, rather than defend Epstein and Dershowitz, they deserve to be ‘throttled’:
Sworn testimony of Jane Doe #3
24. Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz was around Epstein frequently. Dershowitz was so comfortable with the sex that was going on that he would even come and chat with Epstein while I was giving oral sex to Epstein.My guess is, if Epstein put your daughter at age 15 in such a position, you wouldn’t publicly describe him as a “friend” and person of “integrity.” In fact, I would hope that you’d promptly throttle both Epstein and Dershowitz.
Ever uncompromising, Finkelstein copied the child-rapist Epstein in on his reply:
Finkelstein is famous for his refusal to back down in his analysis of Israel’s genocide, apartheid, colonialism, arrogance and the sickness of its society. Because of it, he is hated and targeted by the Israel lobby.
He should now also be rightly famous for his refusal to compromise with perverts and paedophiles and their enablers. There is little doubt, given the prevalence of paedophilia in Israel and among its supporters, and Epstein’s now-confirmed status as an Israeli ‘kompromat’ operative, that Finkelstein will be hated and targeted even more by the Israel lobby.
Featured image via YouTube screenshot/Media Education Foundation