Jeffrey Epstein’s international sex trafficking ring was based on his private island in the US Virgin Islands. The conduct of Epstein and his collaborators was horrific and evidenced the worst in human behavior. Those who visited the island, or for that matter, anyone who even associated with Epstein once news of his misconduct began to surface were looked upon as being complicit.

The consequences of being complicit are playing out in courtrooms. As they often do.

The US Virgin Islands sued JPMorgan Chase alleging that Chase facilitated and benefitted from the sex trafficking of young women. Chase filed a counterclaim alleging, “… the US. Virgin Islands was ‘complicit in the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein,’” saying the sex predator gave high-ranking officials money, advice and favors in exchange for looking the other way. The parties settled the case with Chase paying $75 million. Of that amount, $55 million was directed to charities in the US Virgin Islands.  [emphasis added]

Twelve (12) victims of Epstein’s filth sued the FBI for the FBI’s “repeated and continued failures, delays and inaction” which allowed Epstein to continue his sex trafficking operation for more than 20 years. [emphasis added]

The German bank, Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $75 million to victims of Epstein after the victims filed suit.  They alleged the bank was complicit in the sex trafficking and chose profit over following the law. [emphasis added]

Epstein’s victims sued Epstein’s personal attorney and accountant alleging that those two professionals were complicit by continuing to conduct business with Epstein and provided additional means by which Epstein could continue his monstrous conduct even after having actual knowledge of his misconduct.

Epstein’s victims sued JPMorgan Chase alleging it was complicit with Epstein allowing him to continue his horrific conduct.  Documents produced in the case showed that JPMorgan ignored internal warnings and overlooked red flags about Epstein because he had been a valuable client. As a result, JPMorgan paid $290 million in a settlement agreement to the victims.

A press release from JPMorgan to NPR stated: “We all now understand that Epstein’s behavior was monstrous, and we believe this settlement is in the best interest of all parties, especially the survivors, who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of this man. Any association with him was a mistake and we regret it. We would never have continued to do business with him if we believed he was using our bank in any way to help commit heinous crimes.” [emphasis added]

A lesson learned from the Epstein corruption is that knowledge of reprehensible conduct and continued association with a predator equate to acquiescence and being complicit.

Which brings us to iaedp … and Acadia Healthcare. Acadia’s reprehensible conduct has been the subject of widespread publicity. As such, we can and must presume that iaedp has actual knowledge of Acadia’s many unethical and illegal activities.

So why then is iaedp pandering to Acadia, accepting Acadia’s dirty money and like an amoral courtesan, crawling into bed with them?

Iaedp holds its first Symposium AB (After Bonnie) beginning February 21, 2025. As with all organizations which hold a conference, iaedp solicits and receives money from sponsors.

The business relationship between an organization and sponsor should be symbiotic. The sponsoring company provides financial support, goods, or services to the event in exchange for various promotional benefits, such as brand visibility, logo placement, speaking opportunities, or access to the event’s audience. The organization receives funding.

Any reasonable organization would closely vet sponsors to ensure that the sponsors are reputable and have a shared or compatible vision and mission. This duty is incredibly important.

And yet, what are we to make of an organization which has knowledge of numerous instances of unethical, illegal and/or harmful conduct perpetrated by its main sponsor and yet still welcomes them with open arms?

On its Symposium page under sponsors, the very first sponsor listed is … Acadia Healthcare.

https://iaedpfoundation.com/events/2025-symposiu

This despite the fact iaedp has knowledge that Acadia was eviscerated by the Senate Finance Committee in a damning report in June 2024 evidencing deceit and systemic abuse of patients;

The New York Times published a comprehensive article evidencing that Acadia was committing many wrongful and/or unethical acts towards patients;

Acadia agreed to pay a $19.8 million fine to the Department of Justice and three states;

Acadia agreed to pay another $1.38 million to the United States because of Acadia’s misconduct directed toward employees;

The Veteran’s Administration announced it was conducting its own investigation into Acadia;

The New York Times published a second report on Acadia evidencing that Acadia methadone clinics fraudulently billed Medicaid and other insurers for therapy sessions that did not take place, some clinics accepted patients who were not addicted to opioids to boost patient volume, and dozens of current and former employees at Acadia clinics in 22 states told the Times the clinics sometimes failed to provide adequate counseling to patients receiving treatment for opioid use disorder;

There are now at least four lawsuits filed against Acadia by disgruntled, angry investors. These lawsuits claim that Acadia, as a matter of its business practices and on a corporate wide basis, perpetrated widespread fraudulent acts and engaged in acts of misconduct and malfeasance;

In August of 2024, a civil case was filed alleging that one of Timberline Knolls employees raped a patient in May of last year;

Acadia agreed to pay $1,386,000 to the Securities Exchange Commission pursuant to a Cease-and-Desist Order entered on September 9, 2024. It was found that Acadia had, as a matter of its employment practices, violated rules permitting whistleblowers to receive a reward payment for reporting Acadia’s employment practices to the appropriate federal agency;

In May 2019, Acadia agreed to pay the federal government $17 million to settle allegations it defrauded Medicaid in West Virginia;

Since 2000, Acadia has paid approximately $49,000,000 in fines to federal and state agencies for other egregious conduct.

Rape. Sexual abuse. Emotional abuse. Mental Abuse. Fraud on the government. Fraud on families.

Acadia has paid hundreds of millions of dollars to settle lawsuits in which it was found liable for that reprehensible conduct.

And yet, iaedp still embraces Acadia Healthcare with open arms and accepts their dirty money.

With Epstein, banking institutions and third parties were, and are being held accountable as collaborators and being complicit. Because they continued to accept dirty money. Because they profited. Because of their inaction. Because of their association.

The exact same conduct exhibited by iaedp.

However, in the eating disorder community … there is no accountability nor consequences imposed for reprehensible conduct.

The following exchange is attributed [incorrectly] to Winston Churchill:

“Churchill: “Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?” Socialite: “My goodness, Mr. Churchill… Well, I suppose… we would have to discuss terms, of course… “

Churchill: “Would you sleep with me for five pounds?”

Socialite: “Mr. Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?!”

Churchill: “Madam, we’ve already established that. Now we are haggling about the price.”

Under Ms. Harken’s iron grip, iaedp through its own past misconduct (i.e., tax fraud, unfair and illegal certification program, filing forged documents with the Illinois Secretary of State) clearly established what it is.

So, we should not be surprised that iaedp has chosen to associate itself with one of the most corrupt mental health organizations in the United States. Through its association and acceptance of Acadia’s sponsorship dollars, iaedp is complicit in helping Acadia maintain whatever standing it has in the community.

Iaedp is willing to lie in bed with a corrupt entity so long as it is being paid. Which sounds very similar to the world’s oldest profession.

Now, iaedp has a choice to make. 

Does it stand with the families about whom it professes to care? Families in incredible pain?

Or like an amoral courtesan, does it continue to lie with ethically bankrupt predators like Acadia?

Sadly, we all know what iaedp is going to do.

Iaedp had opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to take a stance and at the very least, issue a statement strongly condemning Acadia’s repeated misconduct. Instead, iaedp chose to do nothing. It remained silent. It did nothing. That is … except taking Acadia’s dirty money and giving it a prominent place as a sponsor at its Symposium.

And we are left to wonder … as an amoral courtesan, how much dirty money did it take for iaedp to compromise all principles of decency and sell its soul … assuming it ever had one.