Epstein affair: Already several political resignations

In the scandal surrounding contacts of the former British ambassador to the USA, Peter Mandelsonin addition deceased billionaire and sex offender The British Prime Minister now has to accept the next setback: Downing Street’s communications chief, Tim Allanannounced on Monday that he would resign from his post.

This marks the second employee to leave Premier’s inner circle within just 24 hours Keir Starmer back.

Crisis for Starmer comes to a head

The most recent publications in the Epstein case show close contacts between Mandelson and the US sex offender. In his previous role as economics minister, the Brit is said to have passed on sensitive information to the US businessman during the financial crisis. Only a year ago, Starmer appointed the well-known “spin doctor”, former multiple minister and EU Commissioner Mandelson, as ambassador to the USA, which is why the case has also put the Prime Minister in great distress.

Die Calls for Starmer to resign McSweeney’s withdrawal has not silenced people from within their own ranks either. Starmer wants to speak to MPs from his own group later on Monday.

Epstein scandal: more resignations

The scandal continues to spread. The well-known Norwegian diplomat Mona Juul resigned from her ambassadorship over the weekend because of her ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

As the Foreign Ministry in Oslo announced on Sunday, Juul resigned as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq following the initiation of investigations. She had already been temporarily suspended because of her ties to Epstein.

Also from last weekend: Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has resigned in connection with the Epstein case US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick required.

If you believe the information in the files surrounding the deceased sex offender, Lutnick was on the multimillionaire’s private island and had business relationships with him years after his conviction in 2008, Massie told the US broadcaster CNN.

Mentioned many times in the files

A look at France: The French ex-culture minister Jack Lang was summoned by the State Department last week for frequent contacts with Jeffrey Epstein. The Elysée and the Prime Minister’s Office had asked for him to answer questions, according to those close to President Emmanuel Macron.

Lang is under pressure to resign from his current position as president of the Institut du Monde Arabe. He is said to have used Epstein’s private plane and car for a long period of time. His daughter Caroline resigned as head of a producers’ association after a business partnership with Epstein from 2016 became known. Both deny the allegations.

More names from Europe

The Norwegian Economic Crime Authority is now investigating the former prime minister Thorbjörn Jagland on suspicion of serious corruption. It’s about gifts and loans in connection with his previous positions at the Nobel Committee and the Council of Europe. Norway has requested that its immunity be lifted.

Also the Slovak National Security Advisor Miroslav Lajčák resigned after emails from his time as secretary of state in 2018 emerged in which he exchanged views with Epstein about young women. He denies wrongdoing, but says he wanted to avert political damage to Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Against Børge Brendethe head of the World Economic Forum (WEF), is also under an internal investigation into several meetings with Epstein. According to the files, there were three business lunches as well as email and text message correspondence. The former Norwegian foreign minister said he first met Epstein in 2018 and knew nothing of his criminal past. He regrets not having checked the background more closely.

Not to forget: Mette-Marit. The Norwegian Crown Princess is accused of having a close email exchange with Epstein after his conviction for sexual offenses in 2008. She called him something like “sweetheart.” Although she claimed not to have known about his criminal past, emails from 2011 show she had concerns (“doesn’t look good”). In a statement, the 52-year-old admitted wrongdoing and regretted the contact.

Clintons demand public hearing

Back to the USA: The Epstein files also have repercussions for the Clintons. The couple’s name Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton Like that of Trump and numerous other celebrities, it also appears in the documents. So far, neither the Democratic politician couple nor Trump has been able to prove any wrongdoing, but a hearing before an investigative committee in the US Congress is expected to follow.

The American ex-president and his wife have demanded that this should not take place behind closed doors. “Let’s stop playing games and do this right: with one public hearing” wrote Bill Clinton on X.

Hillary Clinton is scheduled to testify before the committee in connection with the Epstein revelations on February 26th, her husband on February 27th. Democrats like the Clintons accuse the Trump administration of wanting to exploit the Epstein scandal for party political purposes.