Epstein's files have led to high-profile resignations and criminal cases. What you need to know

The publication of all files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a financier convicted of sexual crimes, has led to serious consequences for many politicians and businessmen. The main victim of the revealed facts was British politician Peter Mandelson, who faces a life sentence for leaking government documents. Because of him, the head of the government staff and the head of a large logistics company lost their posts. Who else was under pressure because of Epstein, who died in 2019, - in the Izvestia article.

Peter Mandelson

• Back in September 2025, the British ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, was dismissed after the first published Epstein files showed that they had been in contact from at least 2002 to 2011, that is, including after the financier's conviction in the case of child prostitution. However, new documents released in January revealed new details about the British politician.

• It turned out that Mandelson and his business partner once received $75,000 from Epstein. As Minister of Business Affairs from 2008 to 2010, he lobbied for a government reshuffle to change the legislation on bankers' bonuses, which Epstein personally asked him to do. Mandelson also sent the financier internal government documents related to the privatization of real estate and tax policy, and in some cases the papers were sent to Epstein immediately after receipt. Finally, in 2010, Mandelson happily told Epstein about the impending resignation of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in whose cabinet he was a member.

• After the publication of the remaining files, Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party and renounced the title of peer, which gave him the right to sit in the House of Lords of the British Parliament. At the same time, the police launched a criminal investigation into the leaks of government documents, which could result in Mandelson's life in prison.

Morgan McSweeney

The Mandelson scandal has hit another prominent British politician. Morgan McSweeney has been Keir Starmer's chief of staff since 2020 and took over his office in Downing Street in October 2024. He led the Labor Party's preparations for the general elections that brought them to power, and was considered one of the possible leaders of the party in the future.

• However, McSweeney was considered Mandelson's man, as he had worked at his bank back in the early 2000s. He was criticized after Mandelson's resignation as ambassador, as he was considered the main initiator of his appointment. It turned out that the recommendation for his appointment was submitted to Starmer despite the concerns of the security service, which knew about the too deep ties with Epstein. Although the Prime Minister supported McSweeney and expressed full confidence in his assistant, he nevertheless resigned.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem

• Another high-profile resignation was connected with Mendelssohn. The Emirati businessman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem resigned from the posts of chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of DP World. It is one of the largest logistics companies in the world, and it belongs to the royal family of Dubai. The company operates one of the busiest ports in Jebel Ali and owns a network of container terminals worldwide.

Bin Sulayem began communicating with Epstein back in 2007 and continued after his prosecution. The financier gave him Mandelson's personal email address, which allowed the Emirati businessman to lobby his interests in the British government. Bin Sulayem subsequently invited Mandelson to join the board of directors of one of his companies.

• In addition to work issues, the two businessmen also discussed the girls a lot. Bin Sulayem once said that "a Ukrainian and a Moldovan woman came to him," and the latter disappointed him because of her appearance. Later, the Emirati businessman thanked Epstein for "a sample of a fresh, 100% Russian woman on his yacht."

Miroslav Lajcak

• Epstein's files also led to a high-profile resignation in Slovakia. Almost immediately after the publication, Miroslav Lajcak resigned from all his posts. In the past, he headed the Slovak Foreign Ministry, was President of the UN General Assembly and High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. By the time of his resignation, he was the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, and in the government of Robert Fico he became an adviser on national security and Western Balkans issues.

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• It turned out from the published documents that Lajcak conducted extensive correspondence with Epstein from 2017 to 2019, when the financier committed suicide. In particular, they discussed women a lot and Lajcak asked to introduce him to "young girls". He also asked Epstein to take part in some of his "games." In 2018, Lajcak offered Epstein to arrange a meeting with Fico in order to further make him a partner of American right-wing politicians.

• The journalists also found pictures of Lajcak and Epstein together, as well as information that the Slovak diplomat was a passenger on the financier's private plane. All this information caused a political scandal in Slovakia, and the opposition demanded Lajcak's immediate resignation, to which he agreed without dispute. At the same time, Fico expressed regret that he was forced to remain without his adviser.

Thorbjorn Jagland

• Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland, after the publication of Epstein's files, came under the scrutiny of the National Directorate for the Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crimes. He was accused of aggravated corruption in connection with the possible receipt of gifts and loans from the disgraced financier. Information has already been found in the published documents that Jagland asked Epstein to place his family on the businessman's personal island.

• In connection with the investigation of the Norwegian government even filed a special motion to the Council of Europe, Jagland which occupied the post of General Secretary from 2009 to 2019. During this period, the politician had immunity, but the organization decided to deprive him of this privilege, which would allow him to be prosecuted.