The following article is an updated version of the one that appears in our latest print edition.

This week, we asked readers for their opinions on the “Epstein Files” and if they believe anyone else will be held accountable for sex crimes or for assisting deceased, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein with the sex crimes he perpetrated. It’s been widely reported that Epstein died in custody in 2019, in reportedly suspicious circumstances, as he awaited his last trial on sex trafficking charges. He had been convicted for soliciting prostitution from a minor, a decade earlier and had spent 13 months in a county jail, which included a work-release program.

 

“People aren’t asking about the Epstein files out of curiosity. They’re asking because powerful people in this country never face consequences. When wealth and political connections are involved, the public assumes there’s a different set of rules. If the DOJ (U.S. Department of Justice) wants to restore trust, it needs full transparency and real accountability. No one should be too rich or too well connected to be investigated or face consequences.”

Malcom Gray,

Pelham Parkway (Democratic male State committee person for Assembly District 80)

“I’m kind of starting to believe that this guy, Epstein, was probably a spy. Even if he was an offender, he was probably a spy. He was trying to find a way out of what he was into. But the uncovering of these files is going to uncover a lot of stuff, governments, corporations and industries. A lot of stuff is going to be uncovered because of this individual; it’s already coming out. Even with these redactions, you can find a story and the redactions almost feed the story. The more that you show me that there is nothing to be shown, you’re showing me that there is something that I should be looking at.”

Von Franklin,

University Heights

“The people need to be sure about everything that happened then and they need to be sure about it. You want to make sure because the people named could be innocent. Some ladies had the same problem. What happened to these ladies, and what happened to the people who stayed there? Why did they stay there if they were sure that this was happening? Someone else needs to go to jail because that’s not supposed to happen. Sometimes when you would visit Epstein, he would give you a lady. We need to be sure if that lady was there by herself, or if somebody put her to work like that.”

Pedro Deleware,

Bedford Park

“The whole Epstein situation is a mess. The police, the feds, everyone knew for years and did nothing. A lot of people made money from sex stuff with Epstein. I hope we get to the bottom of this and never allow human trash like him to get away with tragedies like this ever again. There are a lot of millionaires with power pulling all kinds of stunts out there. How do we stop them when the world is their oyster?”

Kay Cardona,

Pelham Gardens

“I think the names of powerful people in the files should be revealed, should never have been redacted, and the people should be aware of the extent of the operation and its influence. The implicated parties who did wrongdoing should be brought to justice.”

J.C. Amorini, 

Forest Hills, Queens

Editor’s Note: According to reporting by The Daily Beast dated Jan. 31, the allegation of rape against U.S. President Donald Trump involving a 13-year-old girl is part of an explosive new tranche of documents released by the U.S. Justice Department into the crimes of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The claim, which the White House says was “unfounded and false,” was made in an FBI file dated from August 2025 linked to an investigation into the Alexander brothers, three wealthy Florida siblings who are currently on trial, accused of sex trafficking.

 

On Thursday, Feb. 19, The New York Times reported that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, known formerly as Prince Andrew, The Duke of York before being stripped of his royal titles in recent years and months, was arrested and later released by Scotland Yard (British Police) after being detained on suspicions of misconduct in public office. The outlet reported that he is still under investigation. 

 

Mountbatten Windsor has maintained his innocence since allegations first surfaced over the last decade of his seemingly close relationship with former convicted and now deceased child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Though he famously told BBC Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis that he hadn’t regretted the friendship with Epstein, despite knowing the latter had been convicted as a sex offender, in a now viral interview in November 2019, Mountbatten Windsor subsequently said he regretted those comments and shared his compassion for Epstein’s victims.

 

In 2022, Mountbatten Windsor later settled a civil sexual assault lawsuit filed by now deceased victim, Virginia Giuffre, who died, reportedly by suicide, in Australia in April 2025.

 

Maitlis said in an interview with Christiane Amanpour, following Mountbatten Windsor’s arrest, that legally the reason for the arrest is unrelated to his former case involving Giuffre, though the reason the charges for which he was arrested came to light, were due to the release of the Epstein files.  

 

Following news of Mountbatten Windsor’s arrest, Giuffre’s family recently gave their reaction to news that new email evidence, uncovered in the context of the release of the Epstein files, appears to show that a now-famous photo of Giuffre and Mountbatten Windsor, seemingly taken in the home of convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell when Giuffre was reportedly 17-years-old, was indeed real, something Mountbatten Windsor had long suggested was not the case. 

 

The BBC reported on Feb. 9 that Maxwell, an associate of Epstein, has refused to answer questions from the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee on the crimes she and Epstein committed, as well as questions about potential co-conspirators. She is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.

 

Norwood News has attempted to reach out to the legal team for Mountbatten Windsor for comment on his arrest and will share any feedback we receive. 

 

Victims or survivors of abuse by Jeffrey Epstein should contact federal law enforcement, specifically the FBI, or seek guidance from specialized legal counsel to explore options for justice and support. 

Primary Contact for Reporting 

• FBI: Victims are urged to contact the FBI directly at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
• U.S. Attorney’s Office (SDNY): The Victim/Witness specialists at the Southern District of New York can be reached at 1-866-874-8900 or via their office at 26 Federal Plaza, 37th Floor, New York, New York 10278

 

Some of the logos seen in the attached photos have been obscured for legal reasons.