Elite* social norms are different, not always in a good way. Consider the many illustrious defenders of Roman Polanski.
*I know this word gets overused but here it is apropos.
*I know this word gets overused but here it is apropos.
The guy was obviously super questionable in his business dealings, and an active sex offender - but I think that's in hindsight, and a lot of the dealings are more a question of people getting taken in by a professional confidence man than anything else.