I believe that Epstein was being used by the ones with real power to control the powerful.

We know Epstein kept meticulous records and proof. It was suspected some of his "clients" were being blackmailed.

The business elites and hollywood stars can explain his vast wealth.

There are a few things that bother me:

What did he get from the political elite?

How did he avoid detection from authorities? Even political elite can't stop the numerous law enforcement agencies worldwide. Not on their own.

One could believe that the political elite used their influences to block any criminal investigation.

Look though at the Clintons, they don't make it a business to be beholden to anyone. Yes they've lost power now, but we're talking about the Clinton's in their prime.

I believe the narrative was flipped on its head to avoid implicating the middle man in a far more nefarious situation.

I think it's far more likely that parties like the Clintons were actually the controlling party in this arrangement.

They turned Epstein over to the FBI/CIA as an asset not a target of investigation.

It wasn't until everything hit the judicial system that the whole thing fell apart and Epstein had to be burned.