The narrative here hinges on Epstein’s ability to leverage his reputation as a connected insider, even after his conviction, to influence perceptions of power. The strongest version of this story is that Epstein, despite his criminal history, maintained enough credibility among elites like Ambani to be treated as a back-channel source of White House intelligence. The exchanges suggest a pattern of perceived access being weaponized for influence, regardless of its actual validity. This aligns wit...