Why don't people just bypass the 'mystery' bits.
How can there be an mystery at this point?
American taxpayers paid for the lifestyles and careers of both Epstein and Maxwell. When they were in their prime they were 'legit' operators for the Alphabet Intelligence club. They probably in their warped way felt they were doing what was asked of them - i.e., doing 'right'.
People seem to forget that the Swamp was the functioning US Government at one point. Everything from domestic to foreign policy to military strategy to diplomatic negotiations went through the swamp. The swamp ran the show so how could those employed by the show feel themselves outlaws or criminals? They felt legit.
This is where and why we now witness the arrogance and panic. The sudden shock of being under attack (never knew it could happen) but also the latent, pompous self-regard of 'legitimacy (Comey behaviour etc)
When the tyrant Ceausescu fell in Romania, neither he nor his wife could fathom the reasons why the Romanian people wanted him gone. You could see the confusion in his mind right up until execution. The inability to understand that his reign was now deemed criminal.