Epstein Files Topple European Elites — U.S. Fallout Remains More Muted

The vast trove of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice tied to Jeffrey Epstein has triggered a wave of resignations, investigations and reputational damage across Europe — striking diplomats, politicians, royals and business figures more forcefully than in the United States.

Britain: High-Profile Fallout

In the U.K., the disclosures have had immediate political consequences. Peter Mandelson, the former European Commissioner and a one-time ambassadorial appointee to Washington, was dismissed and now faces a police inquiry into whether he committed misconduct in public office by sharing sensitive information. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has apologised to Epstein's victims and is confronting a leadership crisis over Mandelson's appointment.

FILE - Britain's Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, looks round as he leaves after attending the Easter Matins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, England, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Prince Andrew has paid millions to settle a civil claim brought by one of Epstein's accusers and continues to face pressure to testify in the U.S. His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, has closed a charity after scrutiny of her ties to Epstein. Many of those pushed from public roles were not accused of sexual crimes; rather, they were criticized for continuing friendly relations with Epstein after his 2008 conviction for sex offences involving a minor.

United States: More Restrained Reaction So Far

Although the DOJ release followed sustained pressure in the U.S. to open investigative files, the immediate domestic political reckoning has been less sweeping. Some prominent Americans have faced consequences: former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers took leaves from academic duties at Harvard; Brad Karp resigned as chair of the law firm Paul Weiss; and the NFL said it would probe exchanges involving New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch.

British Ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson speaks during the rededication ceremony of the George Washington Statue in the National Gallery in London, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Other U.S. figures named in the files — including Steve Bannon, Commerce official Howard Lutnick, and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk — have had their relationships with Epstein highlighted but have not faced comparable institutional sanctions. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump have been asked about ties to Epstein; neither has been accused by Epstein's victims of wrongdoing in the documents released.

Europe: Broad Political and Institutional Repercussions

Across the continent the files have prompted resignations, suspensions and criminal or parliamentary probes. Sweden's U.N. official Joanna Rubinstein resigned after revelations about a 2012 trip to Epstein's Caribbean island. Slovakia's national security adviser Miroslav Lajcak left office following messages showing casual comments about "gorgeous" girls. Several Baltic states and Poland have launched reviews or investigations into possible victims and other links highlighted by the files.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, Pool)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Norway: Corruption Probe and Royal Embarrassment

Norway has been particularly affected. The country's economic crimes unit opened a corruption investigation into former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland. Diplomats Terje Rød-Larsen and Mona Juul — notable for their work on Middle East peacemaking in the 1990s — have been drawn into scrutiny after reports that Epstein included large bequests to their children in a will drafted shortly before his 2019 death.

Messages showing Epstein's informal friendship with Crown Princess Mette-Marit, including exchanges about visits and casual errands, prompted the princess to apologise publicly. The disclosures arrived as her son from a prior relationship faced unrelated criminal charges in Norway.

FILE -Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Ingrid Alexandra applaud during the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony, in Oslo, Norway, Dec. 10, 2025. (Ole Berg-Rusten/NTB Scanpix, Pool via AP), File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

"Epstein collected powerful people the way others collect frequent flyer points," said Mark Stephens, an international and human-rights lawyer in London. "But the receipts are now in public, and some might wish they'd travelled less."

What the Files Reveal—and What Comes Next

The documents sketch a far-reaching network of financiers, politicians, royals and academics cultivated by Epstein. They have raised questions about influence, access and judgment rather than producing uniform findings of criminal conduct against most individuals named. Investigations and parliamentary inquiries across Europe are likely to continue as officials and journalists parse the correspondence for evidence of wrongdoing, impropriety or compromised decision-making.

Whether the U.S. will see a broader political reckoning remains uncertain. Differences in political structures, media dynamics and public expectations help explain why Europe has seen more immediate consequences, but further developments in the U.S. cannot be ruled out as investigators and outlets continue to examine the files.

Associated Press writers David B. Caruso in New York and Danica Kirka in London contributed to reporting on this topic.