The awkward part of this is that it seems someone like Epstein did not do something for nothing. The suspicious aura around him means that all of these high-profile people around him may have done some kind of tit-for-tat. Yes, barring evidence, this is all very much hearsay and his untimely death closes a lot of doors to confirm these suspicions, but the amount of circumstantial evidence involving shadyvdealibgs with the guy is enough to make this kind of thing notable.

And I absolutely think it matter where the money comes from, because not all money is equal. Funding agencies, grants, and other sources of money all have their own conditions, terms, and obligations. If you think Epstein's was without, then I think that is naïve.