European Elite Face Reckoning Over Epstein Ties, While U.S. Response Remains Muted
LONDON — A wave of resignations and investigations is sweeping across Europe as the fallout from the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files continues to topple political figures and elites. The stark contrast with the response in the United States is raising questions about accountability and the differing approaches to reputational damage on either side of the Atlantic.
The trove of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice has sent shockwaves through Europe, dominating headlines and ending careers. In the U.K., Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a leadership crisis after his director of communications and chief of staff resigned over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S., despite known ties to Epstein. Mandelson has since quit the Labour Party and stepped down from the House of Lords.
The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into a former government minister over alleged misconduct linked to the Epstein files, according to reports. British police are assessing claims that Prince Andrew, who has already been stripped of his royal titles, passed trade visit reports to Epstein, multiple outlets have reported.
The repercussions extend beyond the U.K. In Norway, a former prime minister is under investigation, an ambassador resigned, and the crown princess issued an apology for her relationship with Epstein. Mona Juul, the former ambassador, resigned following reports that Epstein left her children $10 million in a will. Crown Princess Mette-Marit apologized “to all of you whom I have disappointed” after details of her relationship with Epstein emerged.
The crisis in Downing Street is particularly acute, with key staff departures triggered by the Mandelson scandal. Starmer, who reportedly never met Epstein himself, is now grappling with the consequences of a decision that has sparked public outrage.
In the U.S., however, the release of the Epstein files has not resulted in the same level of public reckoning. While some powerful figures appear in the documents, including former President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Steve Bannon, and Bill Gates, they have largely avoided professional consequences. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose dealings with Epstein have come under scrutiny, is facing calls for his resignation, but the government has largely dismissed the controversy as a distraction.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has called for Lutnick to resign, but a Commerce spokesperson told Axios that Lutnick had “very limited interactions with” Epstein after 2005 and that the criticism is a “failing attempt by the legacy media to distract from the administration’s accomplishments.”
The differing responses highlight a trans-Atlantic divide in accountability. “Epstein collected powerful people the way others collect frequent flyer points,” said Mark Stephens, a specialist in international and human rights law in London. “But the receipts are now in public, and some might wish they’d traveled less.”
While some leaders in corporate America and academia have faced repercussions – Brad Karp, chairman of Paul Weiss, resigned after his emails with Epstein surfaced, and Longevity expert Peter Attia apologized and stepped down from his post at David Protein after crude humor in the files came to light – the overall impact in the U.S. Has been significantly less pronounced than in Europe.
U.S. Lawmakers are set to view unredacted versions of the Epstein files on Monday, seeking further answers. However, the current situation suggests that the fallout from the files is likely to continue to be a far more significant crisis for European governments than for their American counterparts.
