CCNY Students and Faculty React to the Epstein Files and Raise Concerns About Power, Justice and Accountability

Design by Christian Branch

By Eman Mubarik 

On November 19, 2025, President Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, requiring the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to release all information and documents related to the sex trafficking ring of minors operated by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Shortly after, on January 30, 2026, the DOJ released more than 3.5 million pages out of an estimated 6 million documents, including 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. However, some reports, including an investigation by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) suggests that some files mentioning the current President of the United States have been removed or even withheld. 

Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier, first convicted in 2008 after pleading guilty to charges of soliciting prostitution and procuring a minor for prostitution. This was the result of a plea deal coordinated by the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Alexander Acosta. The plea deal allowed Epstein to serve a lesser sentence of 13 months with work release privileges and avoid federal sex trafficking charges. He was arrested again in July 2019 and as he awaited trial, he died by suicide the following month on August 10. Ghislaine Maxwell, a well-known co-conspirator of Epstein’s, was convicted in 2021 and is currently serving a sentence of 20 years in a Texas federal prison. 

The release of millions of files and documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking case has sparked outrage, confusion, and renewed questions about power, justice and accountability. Students and faculty at CCNY are reacting to the files and reflecting on what they mean for society as a whole. 

Students at CCNY expressed sentiments of anger and frustration in response to the files. MB, a student in the psychology major, said she felt disgusted, angry and frustrated when she learned of the Epstein files and how long the abuse went on for. She said, “It’s crazy to me how long this went on for, and I can’t imagine what else is being hidden from …the public.”

She added, “While all the cases of the victims in the files are deeply upsetting, the ones that stuck out the most to me and truly made me feel uneasy were [the cases with] children involved.” She recalled one particular file involving sexual acts with children that sickened her to her core.

DA, a student majoring in economics, expressed outrage at Epstein’s crimes and described his crimes as “inhumane crimes against humanity [involving] children, minors, people and animals.” He criticized the vast number of perpetrators and their identities, arguing that many people in power often evade consequences. He also brought up claims that President Trump could have been involved.

“I was disgusted and upset at the fact that the elites of the world have abandoned their humanity and cannot be held accountable or punished to the [fullest] extent of the law. [They’re] denying everything… insulting the public’s understanding of the matter,” he said. He further criticized the justice system, saying it has “always been a failure” and calling it "mediocre.”

He also emphasized the impact this has had on victims. “No amount of money can solve or heal wounds that the victims will have to live with for the rest of their lives,” he said. He added that those responsible should be removed from their positions and held accountable. “If the president is involved, then I would ask for his impeachment and replacement with someone who isn't already a convicted felon,” he said. 

Makyle Murdock, an international studies major, emphasized that accountability is essential. He said, “We have to hold everyone accountable, and we have to actually look at the situation and understand why we need to hold them accountable.”

MB also reflected on the broader implications of this case. She added, “These files have shown me just how bad people can be and how capable of evil they are.” She hopes that the perpetrators will be punished and that this case will encourage reforms in legal systems where survivor testimonies are taken more seriously, and victims feel supported and safe to share their experiences. 

Murdock put it simply: “[What] do we care more about in society: our system falling because of corrupt things going on or little girls that were trafficked and put in these situations?” 

Beyond student reactions, faculty members and professors also offered their insights and highlighted the broader implications of the case. Professor John Krinsky, a professor in political science at CCNY and the CUNY Graduate Center, said the files are a reflection of deeper systemic issues. 

He said it “seems to me a symbol of the impunity with which the ruling class is now ruling,” and highlights that this reflects “a culture of connections among the connected, and depredation against the vulnerable that is as American as apple pie.” 

He also commented on the political implications of the case, saying it is significant partly “because it involves the President” and “the entire apparatus of the executive branch is (fairly clumsily) trying to cover up Trump's involvement in likely [the] sexual abuse of minors.” He added that the lack of transparency has fueled conspiracy theories and speculation. 

At its core, Professor Krinsky said that the issue is not isolated. “The ground was prepared for this for a long time,” he said, adding that the presence of a wide variety of figures across political, social and academic spheres reflects deeper “systemic problems within our government and justice system.”

Professor Luca Falciola, an assistant professor of political science at CCNY, offered a similar perspective and said that the Epstein files reflect patterns of power and unaccountability among the rich and powerful across various institutions. 

“It appears that the pinnacle of power — the elites across almost all sectors of society — shared similar sordid habits: exploitation of human beings, disregard for ethical principles, and disrespect for legality,” he said. He added that the prolonged lack of accountability is what makes this situation even more disturbing. 

Professor Falciola also emphasized the importance of not overgeneralizing this situation, emphasizing that those mentioned in Epstein files “had very different levels of complicity, and in some cases none at all.”

While the Epstein files bring about frightening realizations about power and government, Professor Falciola urged us not to be too cynical. He said, “We are still surrounded by upright politicians, principled academics, and honest businesspeople who manage power in ways that are neither exploitative nor immoral.” 

He ends with this key takeaway, “Perhaps one of the hidden lessons of this scandal is that the few righteous individuals should be regarded as even more so.”

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Eman Mubarik is a student at CCNY studying Journalism and Computer Science. She is passionate about exploring the intersection of journalism and technology, and is particularly interested in how digital tools can be used to uplift communities. She hopes to pursue a career in law that blends her skills in storytelling, technology and her commitment to public service. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and thrifting.