One of the enduring mysteries about Epstein is why so many rich and powerful men risked their reputations by continuing to spend time with him after he was registered as a sex offender. Did they value his advice? Consider him a friend? Like tapping into his network? Or was it about sex with the young women who always seemed to be around him?
At least with Staley, the answer might have been all of the above. While Epstein was under house arrest in November 2009, Staley visited his sprawling Zorro Ranch in New Mexico, where girls and young women later accused Epstein of raping and trafficking them. (Epstein also
discussedusing the desert compound as a venue for inseminating women in order to seed the human race with his DNA.) Staley emailed Epstein while sipping white wine in the hot tub. “Next time, we’re here together,” he wrote. “I owe you much.” Other messages were littered with apparent sexual references. “That was fun. Say hi to Snow White,” Staley emailed in 2010. Epstein responded by asking which character he would like next. “Beauty and the Beast,” Staley answered.