To that end, maybe Patel is trying to weasel Epstein out of guilt by saying that what is known to have happened is not "trafficking", if the definition thereof is based on the common parlance as opposed to criminal law? What I mean is that in the general public's understanding, "trafficking" is interpreted as meaning that the person doing the trafficking (of a minor specifically) actually received cash money from the customer, and we don't actually know that such transactions happened (and were not specifically alleged in the 2019 indictment).
But criminal law absolutely does NOT stipulate that the trafficker must receive cash from the "customer", it can be ANYTHING of value, including social connections, business introductions, etc. And CERTAINLY for blackmail materials against others, if that was the real goal (which I believe is possible).
So, claiming Epstein didn't traffic anyone would be a fucking ridiculous thing for anyone, let alone an FBI Director, to try to do, but this DoJ is exactly that, and Patel is in particular. But it's the only POSSIBLE excuse for such an absurd statement on his part I can come up with
And yeah, he should be FUCKING IMPEACHED for it
Small point of clarification, Maxwell's one trafficking conviction was for "Carolyn", and it was to Epstein himself, not to others. Carolyn actually specifically testified she was never told by Epstein to sexually service others, only he and Maxwell. And the fact that Maxwell was in some sense an employee of Epstein was enough to convict her, even if Epstein had never said "Hey, Ghislaine, here's 10K for introducing me to Carolyn" or similar.