New Epstein files prompt Prince Edward to highlight victims’ voices
Prince Edward has stressed the need to honor Jeffrey Epstein’s victims as new files reveal that Prince Andrew continued to have contact with Epstein after his conviction.
The tentacles of the Jeffrey Epstein saga have spread beyond the United States to the upper echelons of several European countries, especially since the Justice Department released millions of additional pages, prompting increased scrutiny of powerful figures connected to the asset manager.
The latest set of documents reveals that Mr. Epstein’s network of friends and associates extends beyond Caribbean islands and the East Coast to the gilded palaces of two European royal families and some of the highest offices of foreign governments.
Inclusion in the file does not indicate that the person is a criminal suspect, but in some cases it does indicate that the person had social or business connections. Several powerful figures in Europe are under investigation and investigation, and others have resigned from various professions.
Mr. Epstein’s ties to leaders in business, academia and government have long been known, but the Justice Department’s January 30 deletion of documents provides a broader picture of the relationships cultivated by Mr. Epstein, who died awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Many maintained contact with him after he was convicted in Florida in 2008 of soliciting prostitutes and procuring children for prostitution. His plea required him to register as a sex offender in 2009.
British government comes under fire over Epstein emails
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing calls from within his own party to resign over the Epstein file after appointing Epstein’s friend Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States. (Mr. Starmer himself is not included in any of the documents released.) Details of Mr. Mandelson’s friendship with the late wealth manager became public after the latest documents from the Department of Justice revealed that Mr. Mandelson corresponded with Mr. Epstein after he registered as a sex offender in 2009.
More than a week after the document was destroyed on January 30, two of Mr Starmer’s top aides have resigned. Tim Allan, communications director, and Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s top aide, said they had taken responsibility for advising on Mandelson’s appointment as Britain’s top diplomat. Mr Mandelson also resigned from his seat in the House of Lords.
Mandelson is suspected of passing market-sensitive information to Epstein more than a decade ago when he served as business secretary under former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and British police are investigating him for “misconduct in public life.” Mr. Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing in connection with Mr. Epstein.
Two royal families embroiled in Epstein controversy
Among the most famous European figures whose documents show they had long-standing friendships with Epstein are two members of the royal family: Princess Mette-Marit of Norway and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, brother of Britain’s King Charles III.
The relationship between Mr Mountbatten-Windsor and Mr Epstein has been known for years, but the destruction of the documents in January was the first time the Norwegian princess’s correspondence became public.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal titles and evicted from his vast Royal Lodge home in October 2025 after reports of an affair with Mr Epstein heated up. He was ousted from his position as senior royal three years ago. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a prominent Epstein accuser who died by suicide in 2025, claimed that she was sexually abused multiple times by the former royal when she was 17 years old. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor denies the allegations.
The announcement has only increased scrutiny of the former prince, with the country’s prime minister urging him to testify to US lawmakers and forcing Prince William and Princess Kate to speak out on the controversy after years of silence. In a statement released by Buckingham Palace on February 9, Britain’s King Charles said the palace stands ready to assist police investigating allegations against his brother.
Princess Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway, exchanged dozens of emails with Mr. Epstein in 2014. The emails contradict the palace’s 2019 comments that it had cut off contact with Epstein in 2011, according to Norwegian tabloid VG.
Mette Marit, the wife of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne, has apologized for her poor judgment in continuing to communicate with Epstein. In her latest statement, released on February 6, she apologized again “to the Royal Family, especially the King and Queen, for the situation I found myself in.”
Norway’s prime minister said on February 9 that Mette Marit and other prominent Norwegians named in the recently released Epstein documents should provide more details about their involvement with Epstein.
Norway launches investigation into former leader and diplomat
Norwegian authorities have announced that they are investigating two former ambassadors and a former prime minister over corruption related to the Epstein file. All are known to have had ties to Mr. Epstein, but new files reveal more details about their relationships and dealings with the late wealth manager.
The country’s economic and environmental crime prevention unit announced in a statement on February 9 that it had carried out searches in two locations associated with former ambassador Mona Gyul and her husband Terje Rod Larsen. Both men are being investigated on suspicion of aggravated corruption and involvement in aggravated corruption. A few days earlier, authorities had launched a separate corruption investigation into former Prime Minister Torbjorn Jagland, who is suspected of having ties to Mr. Epstein.
In addition to serving as Prime Minister from 1996 to 1997, Jagland also held other important positions, including Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.
Diplomatic couple Jules and Rod Larsen helped facilitate contacts between the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Israeli government that led to the Oslo Accords of 1993-1995. Juul resigned from his post as Norway’s ambassador to Jordan and Iraq at the time of the release of the latest Epstein files. Rod Larsen is a former deputy prime minister.
The files suggest that the couple and their children visited Epstein’s island and are named in a version of his will published in Epstein’s documents. According to Reuters, the two children will each inherit $5 million from her husband.
Close scrutiny by French and Slovak officials
Former French culture minister Jacques Lang has resigned from his post as director of a cultural center in Paris following allegations that he had financial ties to Epstein. This complaint led to a tax investigation. Lang denies any wrongdoing and says the allegations against him are “unfounded.”
Lang was the director of the Arab World Institute, an organization that promotes exchanges between France and Arab countries. In a letter to Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrault seen by AFP, Lang said he intended to submit his resignation at the next Arab World Institute board meeting. Mr. Lang served as France’s Minister of Culture from 1981 to 1993, and then as Minister of Education.
Miroslav Lajcak, an ally of Slovakia’s Prime Minister Roberto Fico and his national security adviser, resigned after documents from Epstein’s files revealed that he had exchanged text messages with Epstein about women and foreign affairs. The document dates from 2018, when Lajčák was Slovakia’s foreign minister.
Lajčak said in a statement that he was resigning to avoid causing political damage to Fico. He denied any wrongdoing. He also condemned Epstein’s alleged crimes.
Contributor: Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY. Reuters.
Kathryn Palmer is USA TODAY’s political reporter. She can be reached at the following address: kapalmer@usatoday.com And to X@Kathryn Purml. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.
