.....”How could the rich and powerful have been so reckless and foolish?”.....
Because Power corrupts. Anyone who believes differently hasnt been paying attention. Politics, religion, sports, government, entertainment, business, armed forces:... it doesnt matter what arena youre talking about, they are all riddled with the kind of seedy, sleazy, decadent, dodgy, depraved, immoral, corrupt behavior that somehow gets a free pass when it involves the wealthy and powerful elite in America....Epstein was just a part of the powerful, wealthy, elite segment of society....This is not a minor incident involving minor players but powerful men, insulated from accountability who indulge their base urges. .....This is the heart of darkness....Americas seedy underbelly.
Remember the DC Madam who was charged with operating a phone-order sex business? Her clients included thousands of White House officials, lobbyists, and Pentagon, FBI, and IRS employees, as well as prominent lawyers, none of whom were ever exposed or held accountable. Power corrupts. Worse, as 19th-century historian Lord Acton concluded, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
For every Jeffrey Epstein (or Bill Clinton or Harvey Weinstein or Roger Ailes or Bill Cosby ) who eventually gets called out for his sexual misbehavior, there are hundreds thousands of others in the American police state who are getting away with murder in many cases, literally simply because they can.
Here’s a link to an article you could find explains answers to your questions.
https://www.rcreader.com/news-releases/heart-darkness-sexual-predators-within-americas-power-elite
You betcha power corrupts. I was engaged to a multimillionaire in FL and it turned out he. was a sleaze bag who liked younger girls. Broke engagement immediately.