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It happens right out in the open. 

A shadowy cabal of international interests spends years organizing meetings where arcane rituals helped establish the internal hierarchy of global elites. They spend millions upon millions to win influence in games that are inscrutable to outsiders. Shady dealings and even outright crimes are an open secret among the organizers and participants. The only thing they fear more than retribution for whistleblowing is the whole operation going away. 

I’m talking, of course, about the International Olympic Committee. Billions of people get excited to watch their country compete on the world stage every two years, but the games can’t fully launder a reputation for gangsterism among the organizers that would make Whitey Bulger blush.

And even those public-facing exhibitions foster a near-universal “if you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying” mentality. Don’t let the gossip fool you. The games were a hive of scum and villainy long before those two French ice skaters got together.

So, it was refreshing, if a bit shocking, when Sturla Laegreid offered a tearful confession to the world after taking home the bronze in the 20-kilometer individual biathlon race. The Norwegian medalist begged forgiveness, not for his participation in the games or any underhandedness in the competition, but for infidelity.

"Six months ago I met the love of my life. The world's most beautiful, sweetest person. And three months ago I made the biggest mistake of my life and cheated on her," Laegreid said. “"I had the gold medal in life, and I am sure there are many people who will see things differently, but I only have eyes for her. Sport has come second these last few days. Yes, I wish I could share this with her.”

A public self-flaggelation at the biggest moment in your athletic career might seem strange, but it’s possible they do accountability differently in Europe. It’s only on that side of the Atlantic that public officials have faced repercussions for their connections to Jeffrey Epstein. 

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was forced to admit he’d been to Epstein’s infamous private island this week, after the latest dump of Epstein files revealed his semi-regular messages to the financier. He’d previously lied about his relationship to Epstein and was pinned down by members of Congress during a hearing on Monday. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle called for Lutnick to step down from his role in the Trump Cabinet. 

That’s not going to happen, though. The White House knows as well as the IOC that scandals have an expiration date. The “flood the zone with s**t” strategy championed Steve Bannon and employed throughout both Trump administrations serves to wipe the slate clean by muddying it beyond recognition, the same way that the avalanche of events pushes injustices out of the minds of ice dancing fans.

So, don’t expect a repentant Lutnick to tear up in the spotlight and demand forgiveness like poor Laegreid. He spent the last few months turning twizzles on the truth of his association with a sex trafficker. A post-consequences Trump administration is going to let him skate.

What do you think? Will anyone in the Trump administration face consequences for their association with Epstein? Will Democrats force the issue after the midterms? Sound off in the comments.

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