Newly released unredacted files from the Jeffrey Epstein case have exposed a series of disturbing Amazon purchases made by the convicted sex offender, shedding light on his activities and interests. The revelations come as US officials, including Representative Jamie Raskin, disclose findings from these documents, which include reports of previously unknown young victims, some as young as nine years old.
Epstein's Controversial Book Purchases
Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York prison cell in August 2019, made numerous Amazon orders to his residences in Florida and New York. Among these were book purchases that highlight his grim fascination with themes of paedophilia and exploitation. Notably, he bought works by Russian author Vladimir Nabokov, best known for Lolita, a novel about a paedophile obsessed with a 12-year-old girl. Epstein, who infamously named his private jet 'the Lolita Express', acquired Nabokov's Lectures on Literature and Discourse and Ideology in Nabokov's Prose by David H. J. Larmour.
In 2016, Epstein purchased Justine, a 1791 book by Marquis De Sade that contains graphic depictions of rape and torture, leading to the author's arrest under Napoleon Bonaparte's orders. He also bought The Stranger Beside Me, Ann Rule's 1980 true crime autobiography about serial killer Ted Bundy, a story that may have resonated with Epstein's own double life as a outwardly successful financier hiding monstrous acts.
Other book purchases included Lying by neuroscientist Sam Harris, which advocates for truth-telling, and the 2016 paperback Nobody Likes A C*ckblock by R. Swanson and Jess Jansen. This latter book features adult humour but is designed to resemble a children's story, with a cover showing an adult bear reading to a young bear in bed.
Children's Clothing and Toys
Beyond books, Epstein's Amazon orders included items intended for children, raising alarming questions about their purpose. On February 19, 2018, he purchased two sets of girls' uniforms: one beige with a 'school pleated hem' and another white and black with a polo neck. Product descriptions and comments indicate these uniforms are for young, school-aged girls.
Even more disturbingly, on June 28, 2017, Epstein ordered a pack of Gerber Baby Girls sleeper suits, and in July 2017, he had a set of Bright Starts Grab and Stack Blocks delivered to New York. These purchases suggest a focus on very young children, adding to the horrific picture of his activities.
Sexual and Bizarre Items
Epstein also made explicit sexual purchases through Amazon. In 2017, he bought Vagifirm, a supplement marketed for 'vaginal tightening'. Earlier, in 2014, he acquired a 'Portable Fitness Exercise Exotic Stripper Strip Spinning Pole', and in 2016, he purchased a leather whip. Additionally, his orders included odd items such as a Brass & Leather Sailor Look Brass Antique Sea Marine Telescope, an embroidered sombrero, and microscopic cameras, though their exact use remains unclear.
US Officials Speak Out on Unredacted Files
These revelations emerge as US representatives gain access to unredacted Epstein files for the first time. Representative Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, stated this week that the files contain several previously unreported young victims, with one document mentioning an 18-year-old girl and redactions hiding four men born before 1970. Raskin expressed outrage, noting, "You read through these files, and you read about 15-year-old girls, 14-year-old girls, 10-year-old girls. I saw a mention of a 9-year-old girl today. I mean, this is just preposterous and scandalous."
Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie highlighted that six men, including one foreign government official, were redacted in publicly released material, suggesting they were "likely incriminated by their inclusion in these files". Democrat Ro Khanna called for greater transparency, arguing there was "no explanation why those people were redacted".
For those affected by these issues, support is available through the Samaritans helpline at 116 123 or via email at jo@samaritans.org. Victims of sexual assault can access resources at www.rapecrisis.org.uk or call the national helpline on 0808 802 9999.
