Epstein
What’s
in
the
3
million
pages
of
the
most
recent
drop
of
Epstein
files
is
still
being
sifted
through
by
journalists
and
concerned
citizens
alike.
The
latest
discovery,
made
by
Aaron
Parnas,
concerns
Judge
Rebecca
Taibleson,
a
Seventh
Circuit
judge
appointed
by
Donald
Trump,
whose
name
popped
up
not
because
there’s
evidence
she
communicated
directly
with
Jeffrey
Epstein,
but
because
of
a
chain
of
association
that
raises
concerns.
At
the
center
of
this
particular
mess
is
Taibleson’s
uncle,
Lawrence
Krauss,
the
former
Arizona
State
University
physics
professor
who
retired
after
allegations
of
sexual
misconduct.
When
those
allegations
began
swirling,
Taibleson
(then
serving
as
an
Assistant
U.S.
Attorney
in
Wisconsin)
sent
Krauss
advice
on
how
to
respond
to
the
dean.
That
advice
did
not
stay
private.
Krauss
forwarded
her
message
to
Epstein,
praising
his
niece
as
“brilliant.”
And
just
like
that,
Taibleson’s
name
landed
in
the
Epstein
files,
not
as
a
participant,
but
as
a
reminder
of
how
extensive
Epstein’s
orbit
really
was.
Advising
a
family
member
accused
of
sexual
misconduct
is
already
fraught,
particularly
while
serving
as
a
federal
prosecutor.
While
we
don’t
know
that
Taibleson
knew
her
advice
would
be
shared
with
Epstein,
the
fact
is
that
it
was.
And
that
Krauss
treated
Epstein
as
a
sounding
board
for
reputational
damage
control
underscores
just
how
normalized
Epstein’s
presence
had
become
among
elite
circles.
None
of
this
means
Taibleson
committed
misconduct,
and
it
bears
repeating
that
there’s
no
evidence
she
communicated
directly
with
Epstein.
But
her
advice
on
how
to
deal
with
sexual
misconduct
allegations
is
in
there.
Federal
judges
don’t
get
the
luxury
of
shrugging
off
appearances,
especially
when
the
judiciary
is
already
struggling
to
convince
the
public
it
is
neutral,
ethical,
and
worthy
of
trust.
Kathryn
Rubino
is
a
Senior
Editor
at
Above
the
Law,
host
of
The
Jabot
podcast,
and
co-host
of
Thinking
Like
A
Lawyer.
AtL
tipsters
are
the
best,
so
please
connect
with
her.
Feel
free
to
email
her
with
any
tips,
questions,
or
comments
and
follow
her
on
Twitter
@Kathryn1 or
Mastodon
@[email protected].