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The fallout from the latest release of Jeffrey Epstein’s investigative files has reached a fever pitch, triggering a wave of high-profile resignations and sparking criminal inquiries across Europe and the Middle East. The massive data dump by the U.S. Department of Justice—comprising over 3 million pages—has exposed the deep, often transactional connections between the disgraced financier and the global elite.
Here is an elaborate look at the ripples being felt in the UK, Jordan, and beyond:
1. United Kingdom: Turmoil at 10 Downing Street
The scandal has hit the heart of the British government, threatening the stability of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration.
- Morgan McSweeney’s Exit: On February 8, 2026, the Prime Minister’s powerful Chief of Staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned. He took full responsibility for advising Starmer to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to Washington, a move now viewed as a catastrophic oversight given Mandelson’s documented ties to Epstein.
- Mandelson’s Sacking and Resignation: Lord Mandelson was stripped of his ambassadorship and subsequently resigned from the Labour Party. The files reportedly revealed financial payments totaling $75,000 from Epstein to Mandelson in the early 2000s. The Metropolitan Police have since launched a criminal inquiry into whether Mandelson shared sensitive government information with Epstein during his time as Business Secretary.
- Prince Andrew’s Growing Shadow: The files included undated photos of the former Prince and new emails suggesting Epstein attempted to arrange “private” meetings at Buckingham Palace even after his 2008 conviction.
2. Jordan & Norway: Diplomatic Crisis
The diplomatic community was rocked by the sudden resignation of Mona Juul, Norway’s Ambassador to Jordan and Iraq.
- The Juul Resignation: Juul, a legendary diplomat known for her role in the Oslo Accords, stepped down on February 8, 2026. The unsealed files revealed that Epstein had left $10 million in his will for Juul’s children.
- A “Failure of Judgment”: Norway’s Foreign Minister described the situation as a “serious failure in judgment,” noting that the financial link made it impossible for Juul to maintain the trust required for her post.
3. Norway’s Royal Reeling
While Jordan lost an envoy, Norway’s monarchy is facing its own reckoning.
- Crown Princess Mette-Marit: The files contain nearly 1,000 mentions of the Crown Princess, including extensive email correspondence between 2011 and 2014. She has issued a formal apology, describing her past contact with Epstein as “simply embarrassing” and a profound lapse in judgment.
4. Broader Global Impact
The “Epstein Files Fallout” has not been limited to these regions:
- France: Veteran politician Jack Lang resigned as head of the Arab World Institute after documents revealed he had used Epstein’s private villas and jets.
- Slovakia: National Security Advisor Miroslav Lajčák resigned after text messages showed him discussing women with Epstein.
- United States: Brad Karp, the long-time chairman of the powerhouse law firm Paul Weiss, stepped down after emails emerged of him thanking Epstein for “an evening I’ll never forget” at the financier’s Manhattan mansion
