A 2014 opinion article published by The New York Times has resurfaced widely on Indian social media, drawing sharp reactions as public discussion around the Jeffrey Epstein scandal intensifies once again.
The piece, titled “Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime,” was written by Rutgers law professor Margo Kaplan and appeared in the newspaper’s Opinion section on 5 October 2014.
Its renewed circulation comes as online debate grows around recently discussed Epstein-related court materials and longstanding allegations involving sexual exploitation of minors.
What the 2014 Op-Ed Argued
In the original article, Kaplan cited psychiatric definitions that describe pedophilia as a persistent sexual attraction to prepubescent children and noted that it becomes a diagnosable disorder when it causes distress or when an individual acts on the urges. She argued that conflating attraction with criminal behavior could discourage individuals from seeking help before any offense occurs.
The op-ed also discussed research suggesting possible neurological or developmental factors associated with pedophilia and called for reconsidering legal exclusions that prevent individuals with the condition from receiving certain disability protections. Kaplan maintained that expanding avenues for treatment and support could help reduce the risk of child abuse.
Importantly, the article explicitly stated that individuals who commit child sexual abuse should be held fully responsible under criminal law and that protecting children must remain paramount.
Epstein Case Continues to Cast Long Shadow
Jeffrey Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender, was accused by US prosecutors of running a years-long sex trafficking operation involving underage girls at his properties in Florida, New York, and elsewhere. The scandal first drew major attention in 2005 when Palm Beach police investigated allegations that he had abused a 14-year-old girl who had been paid for massages, leading investigators to identify numerous additional victims.
Epstein reached a controversial plea agreement in 2008 with federal prosecutors led at the time by then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta. He pleaded guilty to state prostitution-related charges and served about 13 months in custody with work release privileges, despite federal investigators having gathered broader evidence.
He was rearrested in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges but died by suicide in a Manhattan jail on 10 August 2019, before trial. His associate Ghislaine Maxwell was later convicted in 2021 for recruiting and grooming minors for Epstein and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Victims, including Virginia Giuffre, have alleged that powerful individuals were involved in Epstein’s orbit. However, U.S. authorities have not confirmed the existence of any official “client list” establishing criminal liability for additional high-profile figures. Court documents continue unsealing through 2025, fueling speculation and identifying several big names across industries who were indulging in the pedophilia for most part.
12 years ago, pedophilia was justified as a disorder rather than a crime – New York Times by platforming this opinion piece downplayed the trauma of minor victims while also providing intellectual cover for offenders.
The Kaplan article was published as an opinion essay reflecting NYT’s academic policy argument rather than a news report or institutional editorial position.
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