Epstein Files Trigger Wave of Resignations Across European Leadership

Three prominent European figures left their positions within 48 hours after the latest release of Jeffrey Epstein investigative files exposed previously undisclosed connections to the convicted sex offender, with officials in Sweden, Britain, and Norway stepping down or facing suspension.

Joanna Rubinstein resigned Monday as chair of Sweden for UNHCR, the fundraising arm of the UN Refugee Agency, after documents revealed she visited Epstein’s private Caribbean island in 2012 with her family. She later thanked Epstein in an email describing the stay in positive terms, according to files released by the US Department of Justice on January 30.

The visit occurred four years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution. Rubinstein, former head of the World Childhood Foundation’s US operations, confirmed meeting Epstein once but denied further contact.

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“This was not something the organization or the board was previously aware of,” Daniel Axelsson, press officer for Sweden for UNHCR, told Swedish media.

British peer Peter Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party on Sunday to avoid causing “further embarrassment” after documents suggested Epstein made three payments totaling $75,000 to accounts connected to Mandelson between 2003 and 2004. Mandelson questioned the authenticity of the bank statements and said he had no recollection of receiving the money.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer fired Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States in September 2025 after earlier revelations about his Epstein ties. The latest files include a photo of Mandelson in underwear and documents showing he forwarded confidential government emails to Epstein in 2009 while serving as business secretary.

Mandelson, 72, served in senior government posts under Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Starmer urged him on Monday to resign from the House of Lords, though the prime minister lacks the authority to remove the lifetime peerage without parliamentary action.

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Norwegian diplomat Mona Juul was relieved of her duties as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq on Monday while the Foreign Ministry investigates her Epstein connections. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said the decision was made in consultation with Juul.

“She will not function as ambassador during this period until these questions are clarified,” Eide told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

Recently released documents show Juul’s two children were listed in Epstein’s will to receive $5 million each. Juul, who helped broker the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, said her contact with Epstein originated through her husband, diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen.

Rød-Larsen resigned in 2020 from the International Peace Institute after admitting he secured donations from Epstein-linked foundations and borrowed money from the financier. The couple’s role in Middle East peace negotiations became the subject of a Broadway play and film titled “Oslo.”

Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit apologized over the weekend after documents revealed she exchanged more than 100 emails with Epstein between 2011 and 2013 and stayed at his Palm Beach estate. Slovak national security adviser Miroslav Lajcak resigned January 31 after files showed email exchanges with Epstein about young women.

Read: Justice Department Rules Out New Charges in Epstein Investigation

The Justice Department released more than 3 million pages of documents, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images related to Epstein on January 30 under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which President Donald Trump signed in November 2025. The files detail Epstein’s interactions with politicians, business leaders, and entertainment figures.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated Monday there would be no additional prosecutions related to Epstein, saying the materials contain correspondence, emails, and photographs but do not provide sufficient evidence for prosecution.

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