NOTE FROM MT: Astonishingly, I have received no reply whatsoever from Max Jones (the producer of “The Chris Hedges Report”), Chris Hedges, or Robert Scheer — despite repeated emails, text messages, phone calls, and DMs.
There are none. We will never know the truth behind the Epstein Saga until this "Expert Industrial Complex" comes clean. As to Hedges, I hate to see him impugned on this, but he's in a precarious position now and he needs to APPEND his video with a statement or correction or the mention of the EXISTENCE of proven information provided by the dogged journalist Michael Tracey, who is simply just seeking the goddamed truth.
i think that a lot of the 'attacks' stem from the attitude in his work. Apparently everyone other then him is and incompetent liar. I don't see much effort to work out some of this with other journalists, and i can certainly see why some are reticent to engage with him. On the other hand - i appreciate his diligence. But his vitriol makes me uncomfortable. I have always admired Chris Hedges, for instance.
I’m glad there’s a green light for snark. Tracey first tries to justify genocide and the evil of the Zionist regime with lies about beheaded babies and now tries to run cover regarding blackmail by the same entity. Being a person of sneaky character, he bemoans the credibility and sanity of one victim, then waves a dismissive magician hand at the totality of 20 years of litigation and obfuscation by virtually everyone. The bulk of witnesses are faced with the silver or lead menu. I’m sure curious about the amount of silver Tracey was promised to snuff out the last shred of his credibility.
Yes, as I'm now reading ur 1st comment, it DOES appear I've some serious reevaluating to do about Tracey. I've not kept up with him at all recently, only briefly years ago, and seemed to be reliable at that time.
However, if he has been in any way holding water for these evil Zionists, I will not abide that.
So it matters not, what any of his other stances are, or reasoning behind them.
And I can now see how, if he has been taking up for Israel, why he would be writing an article like this.. not just to provide corrections as I thought, but to create doubt about it in the 1st place. Which is absolutely incredible.
Did u not see where Tracey went out of his way to contact these guys, to try to get this resolved beforehand? What do u mean, "no effort to work out some of this with other journalists"??
i think that you are not reading carefully what i wrote. i don't consider his attitude, where he publicly insults others, to be conducive to seriously eliciting serious replies. this is silly. No need for further elucidation.
Tracey aspires to raise his visibility by making a ridiculous argument. The lack of response to a bloviating asshat is not an argument. It frankly ignores obsessive victim blaming. Which is why you are high centered on the lack of response rather than his garbage hyperbole centered on Giuffre. While he ignores the charges Epstein faced before his death or his actual guilty plea. Ignoring his guilty plea but screaming at the top of his lungs about Epstein’s virtue during his while he served .
Goodness, I sure haven't seen where Tracey has victim blamed or ignored Epstein's charges or guilty plea. But it is possible, because I've only read this from him, as most everything else I see from him comes from elsewhere, in shorter format.
I mean, as I was reading this, I could see how some could form the opinion that his focus on these details are possibly counterintuitive.
But u make it sound like he is an Epstein advocate! Please tell me that isn't the case, cause if it is, I've some serious rethinking to do on his character.
Kit Klarenberh -“I’m of course aware of Tracey’s to say the least dubious track record on many issues, and I make no excuses for his promotion of proven Israeli lies about October 7th. Indeed, that’s inexcusable, and in no way palliated by Tracey’s interrogation of the mythos surrounding Epstein.”
I’m only including the part that makes my argument. From the Tracey school of journalism.
Is Tracey carrying more water for Zionists in a different bucket?
I appreciate your work on this and the links to relevant legal documents. Lee Fang has done some great independent reporting on Epstein and his payments to officials in the Virgin Islands. It’s important to separate the hyperbole from the facts. It seems to me that we’ve only scratched the surface of what Epstein’s racket was but these people who spread sensational lies do not help us discover the truth.
Michael: I had been put off by your views on DJT as I am a fan. But your work here is extraordinary and important. Thank you for your courage. Child sex trafficking and child sex abuse deserves being in the last circle of Hell. But that's why it is sensationally exploited by grifters who play upon good but naive people. McMartin preschool. I had a ring seat to the Nebraska allegations from a friend of mine. I concluded the victims had been so mentally scrambled by their experiences that there was ultimately no way of knowing what took place.
Bryant's claim about an "NDA" and prohibition on naming other perpetrators as a condition of receiving compensation is a shocking falsity. It makes me wonder how he comes to say it, an original lie or something he's absorbed from someone else without scrutiny? The court-filed protocol is clear. Good reporting MT.
He makes up so much stuff, it's clear he just has no rational journalistic standards whatsoever for how he processes and reports information. He's a fraud NGO activist masquerading as an "investigative journalist."
Doesn't say much for the overrated Chris "I know Ralph Nader" Hedges, to just sit there and let someone lie his ass off and say nothing in response. I didn't watch it, but I might just to see if Hedges manages to work Ralph Nader's name into the convo somehow.
That Bryant interview was beyond cringe. And Hedges, sitting there nodding like a dope, is another one engaging in "wishful journalism".
If you're getting ready to 'debate' Ryan Dawson, I strongly suggest you prepare yourself by watching his interview of Farmer, which he did a couple of years after the Whitney fallout. Farmer really knows how to stimulate his lizard brain LOL. If you think WW was bad, he makes Webb look like Seymour Hersh.
Never been a fan of Chris Hedges. I wonder if he mentioned "his good friend Ralph (Nader)" in this interview, as he does in almost everything he ever does, no matter what the topic is. Hedges is a strange fella.
Yeah I am not impressed by him either. He’s always got some old lefty, like the old gal he had regaling us with tales about 1980s Guatemala. He had to periodically interrupt her to remind us that he was in El Salvador or Nicaragua covering the rebels there. I am disappointed in Bryant, whose work on the Franklin scandal was legit. I still think that Tracey misses the forest for the trees regarding the Epstein scandal but I appreciate him keeping other journalists honest.
I appreciate your work Michael. I think Hedges is a great journalist and writer, with an impressive resume and one of the first to speak out against Iraq war and was forced to resign from NYT. All the criticisms of him in the comments are childish, and shows why discourse in this country is sad , we need more adults. No one is perfect and i hope Hedges responds and either takes video down or show why it shouldn’t be. People usually throw ad hominem attacks at Hedges. I appreciate that Michael disputed the facts and one of the reasons i respect him, too. We don’t need Epstein to show mainstream media is broken almost beyond repair.
I'd love to know what u're talking about with Farmer and Webb? Gonna try to look it up after this.. I've listened to a lot of Whitney Webb interviews, so I find it very interesting for u to imply she isn't a good journalist? Because it sure seems like she knows an awful lot about all these folks, their past, their connections, etc.. and her recall seems amazing. Not to mention the level of danger I imagine she puts herself in, discussing all this.
My introduction to her was only a few years ago though, so I've no idea about what u speak.
But if I've been absorbing the wrong content, I do need to know it. Just find it incredibly hard to believe, the things I've heard from her with such conviction, was in any way not good journalism?
Can u share a link or elaborate for me just a bit please?
Grifters gonna grift! Keep calling them out Michael. I wonder how much Hedges paid him for that appearance? I wonder how much Hedges made with that episode?
Hi Michael, thanks for your diligence and level-headedness on the Epstein hysteria (and on all matters). The meta of the whole thing is fascinating--though I'm sorry that simple adherence to baseline journalistic standards has resulted in so much calumny against you (on the plus side, it did create an opportunity for me to use the word calumny). Not that you need to hear it--but still, Illegitimi non carborundum.
Ok, so when is the government going to tell us what was on the numerous devices and discs they seized from Epstein's house? The official story is that a bunch of guys were regularly hanging out with Epstein and his prostitutes, but none of them were having sex? Including BILL CLINTON? Does anyone actually believe that? That seems a little more important than these sideshows.
Great point Michael. Except that the perpetrator died by a very dubious suicide, many of the alleged accessories are known to be associated with murder or various acts of revenge. Robert Maxwell, Bill Clinton, various intelligence agencies, foreign and domestic. So yeah, they can talk. But like Whitney Webb or Glen Greenwald, you may want to move away afterwards. Far away. But you know that. It just wrecks your muckraker narrative.
This is Tracy conceding the bulk of the segment but found a little bit of shit that he could spread on the rest of the segment.
21:23
Bryant may have misquoted Wolf. But people reading the raving drivel of one Michael Tracy, you might get the impression that these were outlandish accusations. That kindly old Mr Epstein was more of a Fonzie than a Subway Jared. Tracy loves gov reports. Maybe he missed this article I conveniently attached.
Here’s the relevant info:
“Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused and trafficked young women and girls, some as young as 13, on his two private islands in the Caribbean over nearly two decades, the top law enforcement official in the U.S. Virgin Islands announced at a news conference Wednesday.”
32:53
Again, picking nits a bit aren’t you Sherlock. Your most mouth breather readers may find this pardons Epstein, but if he did or didn’t, top law enforcement officials in the Virgin Islands would be surprised if he didn’t make an attempt to fuck a girl with braces while on probation. So you’re hanging (no pun intended) Epstein’s misrepresentations solely on the 2008-2009 time frame? Kind of needy. Are you on any kind of child molester list?
49:04
Ok
I’m going to stipulate your assertion with a side of “who gives a fuck”
17:22
Your beef is with the word girl? I have a girlfriend. She’s 47. Am I a liar , too?
To be sure, both hedges and Bryant appear to be peppering their adjectives in a provocative manner. But no one can deny that you’re a master of such shady garbage journalism. As evidenced by my comment here and virtually every word to escape your fat mouth.
13:58
I will concede your point on age. Mainly I’m too lazy to research it and I think I have exposed your stupidity sufficiently.But there’s no denying that media coverage has been sparse. Neither MSM or the self congratulatory alternative media have done much. Except for those you have chosen to smear way after the bulk of their coverage.
14:14 Because it involves Trump I’m going to assume it’s a case of TDS. Mainly because if there was one iota of truth, every one of my retard liberal friends would be jumping around like their ass was on fire. Based solely on your opinion, I’d be open to research such things. But Trump to date, has fumbled the entire Epstein caper. So never say never. (Fumbled is a football reference. Football is a sport that non nerds play in their youth)
8:33
Holy inconceivable feigned deference to the Criminal justice system!!!Yeah, thats sort of the whole point of Epstein you idiot!! That every step of the way, evidence suggests a gigantic coverup. But you’re using the deep state fuckery as a cudgel?!? Who is paying you to pretend that you are fucking retarded!!! If you’re in some sort of danger take a shower and comb your hair as a cry for help during your next YouTube appearance. If “The Chris Hedges Report “ has a shed of self respect they’ll invite you to shove your magic bullet theory up your ass.
I became a paid subscriber because of your Epstein coverage. You will be vindicated in the end and your detractors will be embarrassed for believing in this conspiracy.
I think you mentioned it in another article but another whopper from Nick Bryant is he beats his chest on how he published that infamous black book of Epstein with Gawker. Yet when Mother Jones columnist in 2020 called the names, only one person said they were groped by Epstein
For now at least, I'll give Hedges the benefit of the doubt. I.e., that it's a temporary lapse of journalistic standards for personal reasons or unchecked unconscious bias.
The whole Epstein story feels like it was intended to be exposed.
-even though it was technically legal age at the islands, he still did things in Florida which got him caught - a record
Was Epstein this stupid or was it to create the story of trafficking? I'm not saying he didn't do it, but why do it where it was easily caught and testimony by Americans holds more sway
-the video is clearly doctored almost by design... A mouse cursor in one part, aspect ratio change in another part. These are things that are easily fixed and any one of us with basic editing abilities would be able to do without those glaring issues!
-the 2 guards that saw him dead said he was sitting down, as if to make it obvious that he was killed
Nobody else saw? In that case why say he was sitting down while hanging? It makes no sense!
These young woman were attracted to Eppstein like moths to a flame. Why? Was it like an initiation into the lovie dubbie club. Kind of a right if passage. Just speculating here so don't sue me.
I commend fact checking and taking a contrarian position when it’s less popular. That said, my conclusion from reading a few of these pieces so far is that it’s “straining gnats but swallowing a camel”.
People keep attacking Tracey over these articles, but I am still struggling to find the actual flaws in Tracey's work.
There are none. We will never know the truth behind the Epstein Saga until this "Expert Industrial Complex" comes clean. As to Hedges, I hate to see him impugned on this, but he's in a precarious position now and he needs to APPEND his video with a statement or correction or the mention of the EXISTENCE of proven information provided by the dogged journalist Michael Tracey, who is simply just seeking the goddamed truth.
i think that a lot of the 'attacks' stem from the attitude in his work. Apparently everyone other then him is and incompetent liar. I don't see much effort to work out some of this with other journalists, and i can certainly see why some are reticent to engage with him. On the other hand - i appreciate his diligence. But his vitriol makes me uncomfortable. I have always admired Chris Hedges, for instance.
Doesn't bullshit of this magnitude, ubiquity and consequence demand commensurate attitude and vitriol?
I’m glad there’s a green light for snark. Tracey first tries to justify genocide and the evil of the Zionist regime with lies about beheaded babies and now tries to run cover regarding blackmail by the same entity. Being a person of sneaky character, he bemoans the credibility and sanity of one victim, then waves a dismissive magician hand at the totality of 20 years of litigation and obfuscation by virtually everyone. The bulk of witnesses are faced with the silver or lead menu. I’m sure curious about the amount of silver Tracey was promised to snuff out the last shred of his credibility.
Yes, as I'm now reading ur 1st comment, it DOES appear I've some serious reevaluating to do about Tracey. I've not kept up with him at all recently, only briefly years ago, and seemed to be reliable at that time.
However, if he has been in any way holding water for these evil Zionists, I will not abide that.
So it matters not, what any of his other stances are, or reasoning behind them.
And I can now see how, if he has been taking up for Israel, why he would be writing an article like this.. not just to provide corrections as I thought, but to create doubt about it in the 1st place. Which is absolutely incredible.
Did u not see where Tracey went out of his way to contact these guys, to try to get this resolved beforehand? What do u mean, "no effort to work out some of this with other journalists"??
i think that you are not reading carefully what i wrote. i don't consider his attitude, where he publicly insults others, to be conducive to seriously eliciting serious replies. this is silly. No need for further elucidation.
Tracey aspires to raise his visibility by making a ridiculous argument. The lack of response to a bloviating asshat is not an argument. It frankly ignores obsessive victim blaming. Which is why you are high centered on the lack of response rather than his garbage hyperbole centered on Giuffre. While he ignores the charges Epstein faced before his death or his actual guilty plea. Ignoring his guilty plea but screaming at the top of his lungs about Epstein’s virtue during his while he served .
Goodness, I sure haven't seen where Tracey has victim blamed or ignored Epstein's charges or guilty plea. But it is possible, because I've only read this from him, as most everything else I see from him comes from elsewhere, in shorter format.
I mean, as I was reading this, I could see how some could form the opinion that his focus on these details are possibly counterintuitive.
But u make it sound like he is an Epstein advocate! Please tell me that isn't the case, cause if it is, I've some serious rethinking to do on his character.
His articles are full of flaws and trivial issues. He falsely claimed Giuffre revoked her accusations against Dershovitz. He falsely claimed TLAV was Webb's website and she wrote of herself in third person. He omits the fact that Epstein received 12-year-old girls from Brunel. The list goes on. Tracey's work is extremely sloppy and ideological. https://www.thedailybeast.com/epstein-victim-virginia-giuffre-says-alan-dershowitz-is-not-exonerated-no-matter-what-he-says/
Kit Klarenberg posted similar sentiments.
Link?
He’s expounded: https://substack.com/@kitklarenberg/note/c-144894059?r=7335&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Kit Klarenberh -“I’m of course aware of Tracey’s to say the least dubious track record on many issues, and I make no excuses for his promotion of proven Israeli lies about October 7th. Indeed, that’s inexcusable, and in no way palliated by Tracey’s interrogation of the mythos surrounding Epstein.”
I’m only including the part that makes my argument. From the Tracey school of journalism.
Is Tracey carrying more water for Zionists in a different bucket?
https://substack.com/@kitklarenberg/note/c-144730430?r=ecys&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Yes, that is the one I saw.
I appreciate your work on this and the links to relevant legal documents. Lee Fang has done some great independent reporting on Epstein and his payments to officials in the Virgin Islands. It’s important to separate the hyperbole from the facts. It seems to me that we’ve only scratched the surface of what Epstein’s racket was but these people who spread sensational lies do not help us discover the truth.
Michael: I had been put off by your views on DJT as I am a fan. But your work here is extraordinary and important. Thank you for your courage. Child sex trafficking and child sex abuse deserves being in the last circle of Hell. But that's why it is sensationally exploited by grifters who play upon good but naive people. McMartin preschool. I had a ring seat to the Nebraska allegations from a friend of mine. I concluded the victims had been so mentally scrambled by their experiences that there was ultimately no way of knowing what took place.
Believe the victims
Bryant's claim about an "NDA" and prohibition on naming other perpetrators as a condition of receiving compensation is a shocking falsity. It makes me wonder how he comes to say it, an original lie or something he's absorbed from someone else without scrutiny? The court-filed protocol is clear. Good reporting MT.
He makes up so much stuff, it's clear he just has no rational journalistic standards whatsoever for how he processes and reports information. He's a fraud NGO activist masquerading as an "investigative journalist."
Doesn't say much for the overrated Chris "I know Ralph Nader" Hedges, to just sit there and let someone lie his ass off and say nothing in response. I didn't watch it, but I might just to see if Hedges manages to work Ralph Nader's name into the convo somehow.
That Bryant interview was beyond cringe. And Hedges, sitting there nodding like a dope, is another one engaging in "wishful journalism".
If you're getting ready to 'debate' Ryan Dawson, I strongly suggest you prepare yourself by watching his interview of Farmer, which he did a couple of years after the Whitney fallout. Farmer really knows how to stimulate his lizard brain LOL. If you think WW was bad, he makes Webb look like Seymour Hersh.
Never been a fan of Chris Hedges. I wonder if he mentioned "his good friend Ralph (Nader)" in this interview, as he does in almost everything he ever does, no matter what the topic is. Hedges is a strange fella.
Yeah I am not impressed by him either. He’s always got some old lefty, like the old gal he had regaling us with tales about 1980s Guatemala. He had to periodically interrupt her to remind us that he was in El Salvador or Nicaragua covering the rebels there. I am disappointed in Bryant, whose work on the Franklin scandal was legit. I still think that Tracey misses the forest for the trees regarding the Epstein scandal but I appreciate him keeping other journalists honest.
I appreciate your work Michael. I think Hedges is a great journalist and writer, with an impressive resume and one of the first to speak out against Iraq war and was forced to resign from NYT. All the criticisms of him in the comments are childish, and shows why discourse in this country is sad , we need more adults. No one is perfect and i hope Hedges responds and either takes video down or show why it shouldn’t be. People usually throw ad hominem attacks at Hedges. I appreciate that Michael disputed the facts and one of the reasons i respect him, too. We don’t need Epstein to show mainstream media is broken almost beyond repair.
I'd love to know what u're talking about with Farmer and Webb? Gonna try to look it up after this.. I've listened to a lot of Whitney Webb interviews, so I find it very interesting for u to imply she isn't a good journalist? Because it sure seems like she knows an awful lot about all these folks, their past, their connections, etc.. and her recall seems amazing. Not to mention the level of danger I imagine she puts herself in, discussing all this.
My introduction to her was only a few years ago though, so I've no idea about what u speak.
But if I've been absorbing the wrong content, I do need to know it. Just find it incredibly hard to believe, the things I've heard from her with such conviction, was in any way not good journalism?
Can u share a link or elaborate for me just a bit please?
Grifters gonna grift! Keep calling them out Michael. I wonder how much Hedges paid him for that appearance? I wonder how much Hedges made with that episode?
Hi Michael, thanks for your diligence and level-headedness on the Epstein hysteria (and on all matters). The meta of the whole thing is fascinating--though I'm sorry that simple adherence to baseline journalistic standards has resulted in so much calumny against you (on the plus side, it did create an opportunity for me to use the word calumny). Not that you need to hear it--but still, Illegitimi non carborundum.
Ok, so when is the government going to tell us what was on the numerous devices and discs they seized from Epstein's house? The official story is that a bunch of guys were regularly hanging out with Epstein and his prostitutes, but none of them were having sex? Including BILL CLINTON? Does anyone actually believe that? That seems a little more important than these sideshows.
Thanks for this Michael. You are a doing a great service for the people. Keep up the good work it is appreciated!
51:31
Great point Michael. Except that the perpetrator died by a very dubious suicide, many of the alleged accessories are known to be associated with murder or various acts of revenge. Robert Maxwell, Bill Clinton, various intelligence agencies, foreign and domestic. So yeah, they can talk. But like Whitney Webb or Glen Greenwald, you may want to move away afterwards. Far away. But you know that. It just wrecks your muckraker narrative.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jeffrey-epstein-abused-trafficked-girls-young-women-virgin-islands-local-n1116591
11:44
MT “whatever else is true…”
This is Tracy conceding the bulk of the segment but found a little bit of shit that he could spread on the rest of the segment.
21:23
Bryant may have misquoted Wolf. But people reading the raving drivel of one Michael Tracy, you might get the impression that these were outlandish accusations. That kindly old Mr Epstein was more of a Fonzie than a Subway Jared. Tracy loves gov reports. Maybe he missed this article I conveniently attached.
Here’s the relevant info:
“Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused and trafficked young women and girls, some as young as 13, on his two private islands in the Caribbean over nearly two decades, the top law enforcement official in the U.S. Virgin Islands announced at a news conference Wednesday.”
32:53
Again, picking nits a bit aren’t you Sherlock. Your most mouth breather readers may find this pardons Epstein, but if he did or didn’t, top law enforcement officials in the Virgin Islands would be surprised if he didn’t make an attempt to fuck a girl with braces while on probation. So you’re hanging (no pun intended) Epstein’s misrepresentations solely on the 2008-2009 time frame? Kind of needy. Are you on any kind of child molester list?
49:04
Ok
I’m going to stipulate your assertion with a side of “who gives a fuck”
17:22
Your beef is with the word girl? I have a girlfriend. She’s 47. Am I a liar , too?
To be sure, both hedges and Bryant appear to be peppering their adjectives in a provocative manner. But no one can deny that you’re a master of such shady garbage journalism. As evidenced by my comment here and virtually every word to escape your fat mouth.
13:58
I will concede your point on age. Mainly I’m too lazy to research it and I think I have exposed your stupidity sufficiently.But there’s no denying that media coverage has been sparse. Neither MSM or the self congratulatory alternative media have done much. Except for those you have chosen to smear way after the bulk of their coverage.
14:14 Because it involves Trump I’m going to assume it’s a case of TDS. Mainly because if there was one iota of truth, every one of my retard liberal friends would be jumping around like their ass was on fire. Based solely on your opinion, I’d be open to research such things. But Trump to date, has fumbled the entire Epstein caper. So never say never. (Fumbled is a football reference. Football is a sport that non nerds play in their youth)
8:33
Holy inconceivable feigned deference to the Criminal justice system!!!Yeah, thats sort of the whole point of Epstein you idiot!! That every step of the way, evidence suggests a gigantic coverup. But you’re using the deep state fuckery as a cudgel?!? Who is paying you to pretend that you are fucking retarded!!! If you’re in some sort of danger take a shower and comb your hair as a cry for help during your next YouTube appearance. If “The Chris Hedges Report “ has a shed of self respect they’ll invite you to shove your magic bullet theory up your ass.
I became a paid subscriber because of your Epstein coverage. You will be vindicated in the end and your detractors will be embarrassed for believing in this conspiracy.
I think you mentioned it in another article but another whopper from Nick Bryant is he beats his chest on how he published that infamous black book of Epstein with Gawker. Yet when Mother Jones columnist in 2020 called the names, only one person said they were groped by Epstein
The black book were contacts not victims, my friend.
Yeah but I have heard Bryant imply they were victims on more then one podcast
you're just confusing it, he certainly didn't say the black book contains victims.
For now at least, I'll give Hedges the benefit of the doubt. I.e., that it's a temporary lapse of journalistic standards for personal reasons or unchecked unconscious bias.
We'll see what happens.
The whole Epstein story feels like it was intended to be exposed.
-even though it was technically legal age at the islands, he still did things in Florida which got him caught - a record
Was Epstein this stupid or was it to create the story of trafficking? I'm not saying he didn't do it, but why do it where it was easily caught and testimony by Americans holds more sway
-the video is clearly doctored almost by design... A mouse cursor in one part, aspect ratio change in another part. These are things that are easily fixed and any one of us with basic editing abilities would be able to do without those glaring issues!
-the 2 guards that saw him dead said he was sitting down, as if to make it obvious that he was killed
Nobody else saw? In that case why say he was sitting down while hanging? It makes no sense!
These young woman were attracted to Eppstein like moths to a flame. Why? Was it like an initiation into the lovie dubbie club. Kind of a right if passage. Just speculating here so don't sue me.
I commend fact checking and taking a contrarian position when it’s less popular. That said, my conclusion from reading a few of these pieces so far is that it’s “straining gnats but swallowing a camel”.