EPSTEIN SURVIVORS' ATTORNEY WHO EXPOSED GOVERNMENT CONSPIRACY: Brad Edwards - We Can Do Hard Things Recap
Podcast: We Can Do Hard Things
Published: 2026-02-12
Duration: 4913
Guests: Brad Edwards
What Happened
Brad Edwards has been a relentless advocate for the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, representing over 200 victims over nearly two decades. He was instrumental in exposing the secretive non-prosecution agreement that federal prosecutors made with Epstein, which a federal judge later ruled as a violation of the Crime Victims' Rights Act. Edwards detailed how this agreement shielded Epstein and his unnamed co-conspirators from federal charges, allowing them to continue their operations while silencing victims and potential witnesses.
During the conversation, Edwards recounted the courage and resilience demonstrated by Epstein's survivors, many of whom were minors at the time of their victimization. He highlighted the systemic failures within the DOJ and FBI, which seemed to prioritize protecting Epstein over seeking justice for the survivors. Edwards revealed that the DOJ has continued to mishandle the release of the Epstein Files, failing to adequately protect the identities of victims and, in some cases, revictimizing them by exposing their personal information.
Edwards also shared his covert involvement with the Southern District of New York, which ultimately led to Epstein's arrest in 2019 on sex trafficking charges. Despite Epstein's death, which was ruled a suicide, the survivors continued to seek justice through civil cases and legislative actions like the Epstein Transparency Act, which demands the release of investigation-related documents with victims' names redacted.
The episode concluded with a discussion on the path forward for accountability, emphasizing the need for legislative changes to prevent similar situations in the future. Edwards mentioned ongoing legal actions against financial institutions like JP Morgan Chase and Deutsche Bank, which resulted in significant settlements for facilitating Epstein's operations. He also called for more individuals with knowledge of Epstein's operations to come forward, particularly those in financial institutions.
Edwards highlighted the role of investigative journalism, notably the Miami Herald series by Julie Brown, which accelerated the legal actions against Epstein. This series, along with Edwards' legal efforts, helped bring attention to the systemic issues within the legal system and the complicity of powerful figures in shielding Epstein from justice.
The episode underscored the importance of maintaining pressure on the government and financial institutions to ensure transparency and accountability. Edwards expressed concern about potential retaliation against survivors following the passage of the Epstein Transparency Act, emphasizing the need for ongoing support and protection for these individuals.
Key Insights
- Brad Edwards exposed a secret non-prosecution agreement made between Epstein and federal prosecutors, which shielded Epstein and unnamed co-conspirators from federal charges. This agreement violated the Crime Victims' Rights Act by excluding victims from the process.
- The DOJ has been criticized for mishandling the release of Epstein-related files, failing to protect victims' identities and potentially revictimizing them. This has led to significant harm, as personal information of survivors was exposed.
- Significant legal actions have been taken against financial institutions like JP Morgan Chase and Deutsche Bank for their role in facilitating Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. These actions resulted in settlements totaling $365 million for hundreds of survivors.
- There is a call for individuals with knowledge of Epstein's operations, especially those within financial institutions, to come forward. This is essential to unravel the network that enabled Epstein's crimes and to ensure accountability.