India, Feb. 6 -- After 1945, the West sold a clear story about itself. It was the teacher of human rights, the referee of the rule of law, and the protector of the weak. That story shaped speeches, schoolbooks, foreign policy, and even wars. It also set a test in the West often demanded others pass.

The Epstein files challenge that story at its roots. Public reporting and court-linked releases have described a flood of material tied to Jeffrey Epstein, sometimes framed as millions of pages alongside extensive video and image archives. The exact scope varies by source and by what is legally unsealed, but the theme doesn't change: a wealthy network, young victims, and a culture of impunity.

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