From Peter Mandelson to David A. Ross: These are the elites forced to resign due to the latest Epstein files release

A fresh wave of resignations has rippled through political, legal and cultural circles across the world following the release of previously sealed documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein, the late sex offender. Although the archive of internal records does not in itself constitute charges, the revelations have triggered reputational crises - outside the United States at least - for several people in positions of influence.

In Europe, the impact of having links with Epstein has had serious consequences. Slovakia’s top national security adviser, Miroslav Lajcak, resigned at the end of January after public pressure mounted over his correspondence with Epstein that was disclosed in the files. Lajcak maintained the interactions were strictly professional and part of regular diplomatic engagement, but opposition figures argued the association eroded trust in government.

Who is Peter Mandelson and why has he stepped down?

In Britain, Peter Mandelson, a longstanding Labour politician and former ambassador to the United States, has stepped down from his role in the House of Lords and relinquished his membership in the Labour Party. His resignation followed scrutiny of emails and financial records showing a close-knit relationship with Epstein during his time in government, including tip-offs on cabinet secrets, prior notice of a €500bn bailout from the EU to save the euro, payments from the sexual predator, and even one email from Mandelson to Epstein that appeared to suggest that JPMorgan Chase boss Jamie Dimon should “mildly threaten” then-Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling over a bankers’ bonus tax.

The controversy also led to the resignation of Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, who said he took responsibility for advising on Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador despite concerns about his past ties.

Norway, too, has seen diplomatic upheaval. Mona Juul, until recently ambassador to Jordan and Iraq, resigned under scrutiny from her country’s foreign ministry about her contacts with Epstein. Investigations by Norwegian authorities into potential corruption connected to Epstein have extended to other senior figures, including Juul’s husband, Terje Rød-Larsen.

The cultural and entertainment sectors have not been immune. In the United States, pop artist Chappell Roan publicly severed ties with Wasserman Music after its chairman, Casey Wasserman, was named in the files.

The world of art has also been rocked by resignations: David A. Ross, a veteran museum curator and educator, stepped down from his role as chair of the MFA Art Practice programme at the School of Visual Arts in New York after emails emerged showing a long-standing friendship and correspondence with Epstein.

In a 2009 exchange, Epstein floated the idea of an exhibition titled “Statutory” featuring “girls and boys ages 14–25” who would appear much older or younger than they actually were. Ross responded, “You are incredible,” and pointed out that Brooke Shields had posed nude at age 10.

Meanwhile, in the United States, there are yet to be any high-profile departures of senior figures, despite the clear links between people such as Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Les Wexner.

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