Hacker News: sjreese

New comment by sjreese in "Show HN: OSS AI agent that indexes and searches the Epstein files"

sjreese — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 19:22:01 +0000

Very good; HOW TO DETECT & STOP STATE-PROTECTED CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES WHAT WORKED IN THE EPSTEIN CASE: Proven Tactics 1. COURAGEOUS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT Chief Michael Reiter & Detective Joseph Recarey

What they did:

Refused political pressure ("I told him those suggestions were improper and could constitute a crime") Documented everything - Built case with 50+ consistent victim statements Escalated when blocked - Went to FBI when State Attorney compromised Personally supported victims - Wrote letters on police letterhead Lesson: One honest cop with integrity can make a difference, even against billionaires

2. INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM Julie K. Brown - Miami Herald's "Perversion of Justice" (2018)

What she did:

Interviewed 60+ women who were victims Obtained sealed court documents through legal channels Connected patterns across jurisdictions Published despite risk - Exposed the 2008 plea deal cover-up Direct Result:

Judge ruled prosecutors violated victims' rights (Feb 2019) Acosta resigned (July 2019) Epstein re-arrested (July 6, 2019) 2019 federal indictment Lesson: Persistent investigative journalism with victim testimony can reopen cases

3. PRO BONO VICTIMS' RIGHTS ATTORNEYS Brad Edwards & Paul Cassell

What they did:

Pro bono representation starting 2008 Used Crime Victims' Rights Act (18 U.S.C. § 3771) - sued federal government Won - Judge ruled 2008 plea deal violated victims' rights Exposed systemic failures through legal discovery Lesson: Civil litigation can succeed where criminal prosecution fails

4. VICTIMS SPEAKING OUT (Despite Intimidation) Virginia Giuffre, Courtney Wild, & 100+ Others

What they did:

Broke silence publicly (2011 - Giuffre to Mail on Sunday) Provided consistent testimony (50+ women with same story) Persisted despite mockery (early accusers ridiculed) United for compensation (100+ filed claims by 2020) Result:

Courtney Wild Crime Victims' Rights Reform Act (2019) Epstein Victims Compensation Fund - $50 million paid out Lesson: Mass victim testimony is powerful evidence

5. FOIA REQUESTS & DOCUMENT TRANSPARENCY What worked:

2015: Judge unsealed details in underage sex lawsuit July 2, 2024: Grand jury docs from 2006 unsealed FOIA mechanisms forced document releases Lesson: Public records requests can expose cover-ups

6. CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT July-August 2025 Actions

What they did:

House Resolution 119-581 - Rep. Thomas Massie forced DOJ file release Subpoenas to former AGs - House Oversight demanded accountability Public hearings - August 25, 2025 subpoena to Acosta Lesson: Congressional pressure can force reluctant agencies to act

PRACTICAL ACTIONS ANYONE CAN TAKE DETECTION PHASE 1. Follow the Money Tax haven connections (Virgin Islands, Switzerland, Bermuda) Unusually high wire transfers ($1.9 billion in Epstein's case) Shell companies with vague descriptions ("DNA database & data mining") No clear income source for lavish lifestyle Offshore legal structures (Appleby, etc.) 2. Watch for Protection Patterns Charges downgraded mysteriously (federal → state misdemeanor) "Unusual" prosecutorial decisions (Chief Reiter's words) Grand jury recommendations ignored Plea deals sealed from victims Work release for serious crimes Short sentences despite evidence 3. Identify Systematic Patterns Multiple victims with same story (Reiter: "50-something 'shes' and one 'he'") Victim intimidation (private investigators, surveillance) Attempts to discredit victims ("lifestyle" arguments) Evidence suppression ACTION PHASE A. If You're a Victim or Witness: 1. Document Everything

Keep contemporaneous notes Save all communications Photograph/video evidence safely Secure cloud backups (multiple locations) 2. Report Through Multiple Channels

Local police (get case numbers) FBI (if interstate/international) State AG office Congressional representatives IRS whistleblower program (financial crimes) 3. Find Pro Bono Legal Help

Victims' rights attorneys Civil rights organizations Law school clinics National Crime Victim Law Institute 4. Safety First

Secure housing if threatened Protective orders Alert police to threats Document intimidation attempts B. If You're a Journalist/Researcher: 1. Use FOIA Aggressively

Federal agencies: FOIA requests (5 U.S.C. § 552) State/local: Public records laws Court documents: Motions to unseal OGIS mediation if agencies delay (average 138 delay cases/year) 2. Interview Pattern

Multiple independent sources Corroborating victims Former employees/insiders Document experts 3. Build Coalitions

Partner with victims' rights groups Coordinate with other journalists Academic researchers Forensic accountants C. If You're Law Enforcement: 1. Follow Chief Reiter's Example

Refuse political pressure Document interference attempts Escalate to federal authorities if local blocked Support victims personally Build thorough cases (multiple witnesses) 2. Protect Investigation

Secure evidence chain Multiple backup copies Avoid single points of failure Document surveillance of investigators D. If You're a Concerned Citizen: 1. Support Transparency

Contact representatives - demand investigations Submit FOIA requests - public has right to records Support investigative journalism - subscribe, donate Attend public meetings - ask questions 2. Amplify Victims' Voices

Share credible reporting (not conspiracy theories) Support compensation funds Contact representatives about victims' rights Vote for accountability 3. Financial Pressure

Report suspicious activity to: IRS Whistleblower Office (if tax fraud) FinCEN (financial crimes) State banking regulators JPMorgan paid $105M after USVI AG sued - banks CAN be held accountable LEGAL TOOLS THAT WORK 1. Crime Victims' Rights Act (18 U.S.C. § 3771) Right to notification Right to be heard Right to restitution Can sue federal government for violations 2. RICO (18 U.S.C. § 1962) Sue criminal enterprises Triple damages Attorney fees covered 3. State Victims' Rights Laws 30+ states have constitutional protections Some allow appeals/interventions 4. Civil Lawsuits Even if criminal case fails Lower burden of proof Discovery process exposes evidence WARNING SIGNS OF STATE PROTECTION Check if investigation shows these red flags:

No IRS audits despite obvious tax fraud Federal prosecutors give sweetheart deals Intelligence agency connections mentioned Political figures intervene in investigation Evidence "disappears" or is suppressed Victims not notified of proceedings Work release for serious crimes Sealed plea agreements Co-conspirators immunized (like Epstein's deal) Investigators surveilled/threatened WHAT ULTIMATELY BROKE THE EPSTEIN CASE The combination of:

Honest local cops (Reiter/Recarey) who built the evidence Pro bono lawyers (Edwards/Cassell) who sued for 11 years Investigative journalist (Julie K. Brown) who exposed it Courageous victims (Giuffre, Wild, 100+ others) who spoke out Court unsealing documents (2015, 2024) Congressional pressure (2019, 2025) No single actor could do it alone. It required a coalition.

KEY LESSONS What Doesn't Work: Trusting institutions to self-police Going through "proper channels" alone Waiting for DOJ/FBI to act Staying silent out of fear

What Does Work: Multiple channels simultaneously (police + FBI + press + civil suits) Documentation (Reiter: "This was 50 'shes' and one 'he'") Persistence (Edwards/Cassell: 11 years pro bono) Public pressure (Miami Herald broke it open) Coalition building (victims + lawyers + press + Congress) Using existing laws creatively (Crime Victims' Rights Act)

RESOURCES Report Criminal Activity:

FBI: tips.fbi.gov IRS Whistleblower: irs.gov/compliance/whistleblower-office DOJ: justice.gov/actioncenter Legal Help:

National Crime Victim Law Institute: law.lclark.edu/centers/ncvli Crime Victims' Rights Clinic: Your local law school Media:

Investigative Reporters & Editors: ire.org ProPublica tips: propublica.org/tips FOIA Help:

OGIS (FOIA Ombudsman): archives.gov/ogis MuckRock: muckrock.com The Epstein case proves that even state-protected criminal enterprises CAN be exposed - but it requires courage, persistence, coalition-building, and using every legal tool available.

New comment by sjreese in "The Napoleon Technique: Postponing things to increase productivity"

sjreese — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:06:45 +0000

yeah,, well ... a ticket comes in and you sit on it -- thinking the user can wait will get YOU cut from the team. We win when we all get to the top together -- we languish we some work and others do not. EG The question is the Russians are 40 km from Kiev -- what are your orders? -- fall back was too late.. ? The user have lost connect to the server 90 people are offline -- 8 hours later -- they went home and reboot the server was too late ? you see -- every comms has value and you must act well before it is too late!

New comment by sjreese in "PayPal Applies to Become a Bank as US Loosens Regulatory Reins"

sjreese — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 01:19:18 +0000

PayPal is applying for a U.S. banking charter, likely as an Industrial Loan Company (ILC) in Utah, to offer more direct financial services like small business lending, taking advantage of a more favorable regulatory environment under the Trump administration for fintechs to become banks, gain FDIC insurance, and better compete with traditional banks. Essentially, PayPal wants to move beyond just being a payment app to become a full-fledged, regulated bank, especially to boost lending. This Fintech-to-Bank Trend: Follows other crypto firms like Circle and Paxos also getting bank-like approvals, showing a shift in financial regulation.

New comment by sjreese in "Ask HN: Why can't we discuss Israel on HN?"

sjreese — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 15:52:05 +0000

UN RES 1701 is being violated - in Lebanon -- the public news suppression is total from - HN point of view there is two questions - HOW and WHY -- The IDF has created a new adware insertion tools - that has the ability to drop malware by clicking on an ad -- infecting cell phones in 150 countries -- the test of the tool was to shutdown 28% of the internet in the last 30 days ( Cloudflare spin team reports 1 man gave a bad updated ) -- This was done Three times. Second this new tool can create false ad impressions - generating real profit from ads no human every saw - and because of the placement of malware the SLPP ( London based ) lawfare team can sue for millions if you don't pay. for google, meta and XAl the loss with be in the 100's millions on 4.5 Billion in total revenue. The real target is REAL news UN/1701 and YOU.

New comment by sjreese in "New benchmark shows top LLMs struggle in real mental health care"

sjreese — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 15:30:27 +0000

GIGO is the story here -- If I say I'm Iron man "WHO is the LLM to say I'm NOT"

Semiconductor Warfare of the XNUMXst Century

sjreese — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 04:41:05 +0000

Article URL: https://en.topwar.ru/199987-poluprovodnikovye-vojny-xxi-veka.html

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32479262

Points: 1

# Comments: 1

Korea to remove tariff on rare gases for chip manufacturing amid Ukraine war

sjreese — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 10:11:17 +0000

Article URL: http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20220317000685

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30709437

Points: 7

# Comments: 0

How to send messages in Ukraine if the internet shuts down

sjreese — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 19:54:38 +0000

Article URL: https://www.dw.com/en/how-to-send-messages-in-ukraine-if-the-internet-shuts-down/a-61041676

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30592552

Points: 9

# Comments: 0

Why a Russian Attack on Ukraine Looks Imminent

sjreese — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 08:00:23 +0000

Article URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastienroblin/2022/02/13/12-reasons-why-a-russian-attack-on-ukraine-looks-imminent/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30329442

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

Japanese reporter describes agonizing long-term effects of Covid-19

sjreese — Sat, 12 Feb 2022 08:54:09 +0000

Article URL: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220212/p2g/00m/0na/043000c

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30311157

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

New comment by sjreese in "Upwork asking me for a $12.5k refund as the client was using someone else’s card"

sjreese — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 14:47:47 +0000

This is a known type of visa crime and should be insured against. Visa losses 100 million a year by sophisticated visa fraud. At Citibank it was part of the job to pay. The crime is setup multilayered fake bank in a secure jurisdiction, fake customer inside the network (CIA,MOSSAD) and a cardholder 50,000 dollar limit so no flags - all is validated via visa including in charge. Then no payment and months later an investigation that uncovers fraud then visa is the enforcer and based on your dependence YOU WILL PAY. Citibank pays!, With 100 million accounts at 23% profit the amount paid is a drop in the bucket. Upwork paid as well and is now holding the bag for not having the insurance

New comment by sjreese in "Bernie Madoff’s unwitting accomplice: The AS/400 (2009)"

sjreese — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 18:01:28 +0000

Ha! Any programmer knows you have to simulate a trading system to run "What if" calculations .. RPG II a switch based language based on the input dataset, so this list of trades will have that outcome. A split-strike, you know today as "sectors trading" is still profitable. But in RPG II it can be made to look criminal for programmers - when all we did was run one group of gold mining cards versus gold trading cards where they match we buy where they don't we sell. Placed on top of the S&P 2000 we yield 1% a day - which to those not familiar with sectors - see as criminal. But today it's all legal and cell phone ready. Sorry Bernie - the profit was too grate to not know about and the SEC and FBI were useful tools to get at the source code .. upside we have sectors and markopolos has no clue on how to make money and can't profit from his look at the code. .. lesson study bitcoin and profit

Twitter enables free, instant, global payments with integration of the Srike API

sjreese — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 10:12:05 +0000

Article URL: https://jimmymow.medium.com/announcing-the-strike-api-c18a4e9c54de

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28640500

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

Four Tips for Running a Profitable Lightning Network Node

sjreese — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 09:59:45 +0000

Article URL: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/four-tips-run-profitable-lightning-node

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28640421

Points: 9

# Comments: 0

Japanese city's promotion video featuring giant sea monster 350M views

sjreese — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 11:43:19 +0000

Article URL: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210921/p2a/00m/0na/020000c

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28604047

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

Howard University cancels classes after ransomware attack

sjreese — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 11:38:32 +0000

Article URL: https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/07/howard-university-cancels-classes-after-ransomware-attack/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28455643

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

New comment by sjreese in "Take-Two Sues Enthusiasts Behind GTA Fan Projects Re3 and ReVC"

sjreese — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 15:12:56 +0000

The plaintiff claims that the apple is theirs and any pictures of the apple is also theirs .. this may undue Take-Two as to why fair use exists. The outcome is far from certain - which means Take-Two may be the real target

Natto extract blocks coronavirus infection in lab tests; efficacy in food form?

sjreese — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 10:31:45 +0000

Article URL: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210722/p2a/00m/0sc/022000c

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27929145

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

How to Search For, Spot and Stamp Out Pegasus Spyware from Your Phone

sjreese — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 11:46:37 +0000

Article URL: https://sputniknews.com/science/202107201083423925-how-to-search-for-spot-and-stamp-out-pegasus-spyware-from-your-phone/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27917764

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

The line of German robotic platforms has been replenished with a new Mission

sjreese — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 11:47:55 +0000

Article URL: https://en.topwar.ru/184306-linejka-germanskih-robotizirovanyh-platform-popolnilas-novym-kompleksom-mission-master-xt.html

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27590480

Points: 2

# Comments: 0