The release of millions of Jeffrey Epstein documents has triggered investigations, resignations and reputational damage across European governments, royalty and the US corporate elite
PARIS: Nearly seven years after his death, sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to damage the reputations of those in his orbit. European royalty, former government leaders and US corporate titans face intense scrutiny following the release of 3.5 million documents by the US Justice Department.
While being named in the files does not imply wrongdoing, it has proven deeply compromising. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting to save his job over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington.
Mandelson’s name appears thousands of times in the Epstein files. He was forced to leave his post and the House of Commons after revelations he remained in contact with Epstein and may have received money transfers.
He now faces a police investigation. In Slovakia, Miroslav Lajcak resigned as national security advisor after messages about women exchanged with Epstein were revealed.
Britain’s Prince Andrew was entangled in new revelations, including a photo of him leaning over a woman. UK police are investigating the leaking of confidential documents to Epstein during Andrew’s time as a trade envoy.
His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson also had close ties to the financier. Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit is under direct spotlight for sharing hundreds of intimate emails with Epstein between 2011 and 2014.
“I deeply regret my friendship with Jeffrey Epstein,” she said in a statement. A poll suggests the Norwegian people may not want her as their future queen.
Norwegian police have opened an “aggravated corruption” investigation into former prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland and senior diplomat Mona Juul. Investigators are examining Jagland’s ties to Epstein during his tenure as chair of the Nobel Committee.
The World Economic Forum is investigating its chief executive Borge Brende over 100 messages and three meetings with Epstein. Former French culture minister Jack Lang resigned as head of the Arab World Institute after his links to Epstein were revealed.
His daughter also stood down from a film producers’ union. Joanna Rubinstein quit as Sweden head of fundraising for UNHCR after visiting Epstein’s Caribbean island.
In the US, former president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton will testify before Congress this month. Bill Clinton has denied any wrongdoing beyond flying on Epstein’s jet.
Hillary Clinton said she had no meaningful contacts with him. President Donald Trump, mentioned hundreds of times, insists he is a victim of a “conspiracy”.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates said he regrets “every minute” spent with Epstein. His ex-wife Melinda French Gates said he has questions to answer after Epstein alleged he arranged meetings with women for Gates.
Former US treasury secretary Larry Summers resigned as Harvard University president ahead of the document release. Brad Karp quit as chair of law firm Paul Weiss, and David Ross stood down as director of the Whitney Museum.
Tesla tycoon Elon Musk was also mentioned but said he rebuffed invitations to Epstein’s island.
