BSS
  03 Feb 2026, 08:58

Apologies, resignation, royal glare: Epstein fallout grows

PARIS, France, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The release by US authorities of a new cache of files on late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has caused international fallout involving high profile figures. Here are details about some of the individuals mentioned, none of whom has been accused of wrongdoing:

- Norway crown princess -

Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, whose name appears at least 1,000 times in the millions of freshly released documents, has said "she showed poor judgment" for her "embarrassing" friendship with Epstein.

In one email, Mette-Marit asked Epstein if it was "inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for my 15 yr old son's wallpaper".

According to the palace, Mette-Marit ceased contact with Epstein in 2014.

- Britain's Andrew and Sarah Ferguson -

Britain's former prince Andrew was again caught up in the scandal. The latest release included undated photos of him kneeling on all fours over a woman lying on the floor.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated Saturday that Andrew should testify to the US Congress about his ties to Epstein.

In October, King Charles III stripped his brother of his royal titles after the late Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre alleged she was trafficked to have sex with Andrew three times, including twice when she was 17.

In one email from Friday's release, Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson thanked Epstein for being "the brother I have always wished for". In another, she wrote: "urgently need 20,000 pounds for rent today... Any brainwaves?"

Ferguson said in a 2011 interview that she was cutting ties with Epstein, and has also called a œ15,000 ($20,000) loan that she took from him to help pay off debts a "gigantic error of judgement".

- Belgian prince -

Belgium's Prince Laurent admitted on Monday to two "one-on-one" meetings with Epstein, dating back to the 1990s and early 2000s. King Philippe's 62-year-old younger brother, however, denied ever meeting the disgraced financier at "public or group events".


- Norwegian diplomat -

Norway suspended on Monday a top diplomat known for her involvement in a landmark attempt to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict pending an investigation into her alleged ties to Epstein.

Norwegian media reported that Epstein left $10 million in his will to the children of Mona Juul, who played a key role in the secret Israeli-Palestinian negotiations which led to the Oslo accords of the early 1990s.

- Slovakia official resigns -

to Epstein.

Miroslav Lajcak exchanged text messages with Epstein including one saying that certain "girls are incredible" in 2018 during his second spell as foreign minister, the BBC reported.

Admitting the exchanges on Monday night for the first time, the former foreign minister said that while he was introduced to "important people" by Epstein, there were no girls present.

- LA Olympic chief -

Los Angeles Olympics chief Casey Wasserman apologised on Saturday after decades-old flirtatious emails between him and Epstein's jailed former girlfriend appeared in the files.

Wasserman, chairman of the organising committee for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, said his 2003 email exchanges with Ghislaine Maxwell -- who is serving a 20-year sentence for trafficking underage girls for Epstein -- took place before her crimes were known.

He said he had "never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein", adding that he was "terribly sorry for having any association with either of them".

- British ex-envoy to US -

Peter Mandelson, who was fired as the British ambassador to Washington last year over his ties to Epstein, quit the Labour Party on Sunday following the latest wave of revelations.

Undated photos appear to show Mandelson in a T?shirt and underwear beside a woman whose face was redacted by US authorities. Mandelson told the BBC he could not identify the woman or the location.

UK leader Starmer has ordered an urgent inquiry into Mandelson's ties with Epstein.

- French film producer, ex-minister -

A daughter of high-profile former French culture minister Jack Lang's resign as head of a film producers' group following revelations of the family's Epstein ties.

Lang, who spent nearly 20 years as culture minister and education minister in different governments, said he had been introduced to Epstein by American actor-director Woody Allen and had no knowledge of his crimes.

His daughter, Caroline, one-time actor and now a film producer admitted to being "incredibly naive" for plans to set up a fund to buy artworks with the late sex offender.

- University drops US envoy's name -

Queen's University Belfast on Monday said it was dropping the former US senator George Mitchell's name from one of its institutes over his links with Epstein.

Mitchell brokered negotiations which led to the 1998 peace agreement ending three decades of conflict over British rule in Northern Ireland, and was chancellor of the university from 1999-2009.

The latest tranche of documents includes 339 references to Mitchell, who previously said he regrets having met and known Epstein and said he had no knowledge of any of his illegal actions.