Jeffrey Epstein cultivated a global network of politicians, top business executives, academics and celebrities, many of whom were gravely tainted by their association with the convicted sex offender.
While high-profile figures, such as Britain’s former Prince Andrew, have been very publicly disgraced, some powerful but lesser-known names have been sacked, forced to resign, placed under investigation or had their positions reviewed.
The mere mention of a person’s name in the Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice does not, in itself, imply wrongdoing on that person’s part.
Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting a minor and died in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors.
Borge Brende
The board of the World Economic Forum, which is organizing the Davos summit, has ordered an independent review of WEF chief Borge Brende, 60,’s interactions with Epstein.
Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister, admitted to attending dinners with Epstein in New York in 2018 and 2019.
He insisted he was “completely unaware” of Epstein’s criminal activities.
Thorbjörn Jagland
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland, 75, is under police investigation for “suspicions of aggravated corruption” over his links to Epstein, which include numerous email exchanges discovered in the published files.
Jagland was Prime Minister from 1996 to 1997, then Secretary General of the Council of Europe. He also chaired the committee that awards the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mona Juul
Mona Juul, 66, a Norwegian diplomat who played a key role in the secret Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that led to the Oslo Accords in the early 1990s, has been suspended pending an investigation into her alleged links to Epstein.
Epstein left $10 million in his will to Juul’s two children with her husband, fellow diplomat and broker for the Oslo negotiations Terje Rod-Larsen.
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry said Juul, currently the Norwegian envoy to Jordan, was temporarily relieved while the investigation was underway.
Dean Kamen
American engineer Dean Kamen, 74, inventor of the Segway, has taken a leave of absence from the board of directors of the robotics organization he founded, FIRST.
The latest release of Epstein’s files includes photos of Kamen with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for trafficking underage girls to the disgraced financier.
They also include an email in which Kamen thanks Epstein for a 2013 visit to his private Caribbean island.
Brad Karp
American lawyer Brad Karp, 66, has resigned after 18 years as head of Paul Weiss, one of the most powerful corporate law firms in the United States.
In his emails, Karp thanked Epstein for inviting him to a 2015 dinner at his Manhattan mansion, calling it “an evening I will never forget.”
Karp, who said he regretted socializing with Epstein, also asked Epstein in another email if he could help his son get a job on a Woody Allen film.
Miroslav Lajčak
Miroslav Lajcak, 62, a national security adviser to the Slovak government, resigned after text messages included in the Epstein files showed the two men discussing women.
Lajcak was then foreign minister.
Caroline Lang
French film producer and former actress Caroline Lang, daughter of former French Culture Minister Jack Lang, has resigned as head of a group of film producers following revelations about the family’s links to Epstein.
Caroline Lang told French investigative site Mediapart that she and Epstein agreed to set up a company together to buy art, but she did not invest any money in it.
She describes herself as “incredibly naive.”
His father, Jack Lang, 86, said he was introduced to Epstein by Woody Allen about 15 years ago and had no knowledge of his crimes.
George Mitchell
Former US senator George Mitchell, 92, brokered the negotiations that led to the 1998 peace deal, ending three decades of conflict over British rule in Northern Ireland.
Queen’s University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, this week removed Mitchell’s name from its Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice because of his links to Epstein.
Mitchell has previously stated that he regrets meeting and knowing Epstein and that he had no knowledge of his illegal activities.
Steve Tisch
Steve Tisch, 76, producer of “Forrest Gump” and co-owner of the New York Giants, was put in touch by Epstein with several women, according to email exchanges between the two.
Tisch acknowledged in a statement that he and Epstein had “a brief association during which we exchanged emails about adult women and, in addition, discussed films, philanthropy and investments.”
National Football League chief Roger Goodell said the league, which has a strict personal conduct policy, would “consider all the facts” before deciding whether to take action against Tisch.
Casey Wasserman
Casey Wasserman, 51, has faced calls to resign as chairman of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics organizing committee after flirtatious email exchanges between him and Maxwell emerged.
Wasserman said he “deeply regrets” the exchanges he had with Maxwell in 2003, long before Epstein and Maxwell’s crimes became public.
