Epstein's files reveal 'rotten culture' in US

People in high places

By 2019, when he was arrested again, Epstein had collected a vast network of prominent figures in politics, business and academia across the world.

The Epstein files revealed an A-list of people who had exchanges, associations and dealings of various degrees with him. US President Donald Trump and former president Bill Clinton in the political circle; Sergey Brin, Peter Thiel, and Elon Musk in business; Woody Allen and Noam Chomsky in culture and academia are just a handful of many.

The documents show that the name of the 14th Dalai Lama appears 169 times in emails, according to reports in multiple international media outlets, including India's Financial Express, Belarus-based media outlet Nexta TV and Russia Today.

After reviewing the files, both the FBI and DOJ concluded in early 2026 that there was no evidence Trump participated in, witnessed, or facilitated Epstein's sex-trafficking crimes. They also found no evidence linking Clinton to any of Epstein's crimes.

However, some prominent public figures — mostly in Europe — have lost their positions after the files were released.

In the UK, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal title of "prince" by his brother King Charles in October and vacated from the taxpayer-funded Royal Lodge due to his sexual misconduct with a minor through an arrangement by Epstein. Earlier, under public scrutiny and pressure, he gave up the title "Duke of York".

Peter Mandelson was fired from his position as the UK ambassador to the US due to his long-standing association with Epstein. He recently resigned from the Labor Party after documents revealed that he received $75,000 from Epstein-linked accounts.

Morgan McSweeney resigned as chief of staff for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday due to his recommendation of Mandelson for the position.

Miroslav Lajcak resigned as national security adviser to the Slovakian Prime Minister in early February after the files revealed communications with Epstein regarding "gorgeous" girls.

Mona Juul was suspended as Norway's ambassador to Jordan after the files showed that Epstein left $10 million to her children in a 2019 will. Norway's former prime minister Thorbjorn Jagland, former foreign minister Borge Brende are also under scrutiny for their ties to Epstein, while Crown Princess Mette Marit has publicly apologized for her association with the disgraced figure.

Joanna Rubinstein, chair of Sweden for UNHCR, resigned from her post at the agency following evidence of a 2012 visit to Epstein's private island.

Jack Lang, former culture minister of France, has announced his resignation as head of the Arab World Institute, a prestigious cultural institution in Paris. French authorities said they were investigating financial ties between his family and Epstein.