The experts said crimes outlined in documents released by the U.S. Justice Department were committed ​against a backdrop of supremacist beliefs, racism, corruption and ⁠extreme misogyny. The crimes, they said, ⁠showed a commodification and dehumanization of women and girls. "So grave is the scale, nature, ⁠systematic ‌character, and transnational reach of these atrocities against women and girls, that a number of them may reasonably meet the legal threshold of crimes against ⁠humanity," the experts said in a statement. The experts said the ​allegations contained in the ‌files require an independent, thorough and impartial investigation, and said inquiries should ⁠also be launched ​into how it was possible for such crimes to be committed for so long. A law, approved by Congress ⁠with broad bipartisan support in November, requires all Epstein-related ​files to be made public.

Source: The Star February 18, 2026 06:30 UTC