Across the Atlantic, the fallout from Jeffrey Epstein is toppling political careers in Europe, while in the U.S., consequences have been minimal.
Europe Reacts
- Norway: A prominent diplomat has been suspended, and a former prime minister is under police investigation.
- United Kingdom: Former ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson was removed from office and resigned from the House of Lords over allegations of sharing sensitive information with Epstein.
- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew) lost his royal titles and residence. Meanwhile, a charity founded by his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, will close indefinitely after emails surfaced where she called Epstein “a legend” and “the brother I always wished I had.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly apologized to Epstein’s victims:
“I am sorry for what has been done to you, sorry that so many in power disappointed you, sorry that I trusted Mandelson’s lies and appointed him, and sorry you must see this story again in public.”
The U.S. Situation
In contrast, in the United States, there have been no major political resignations:
- Former President Donald Trump’s Republican Party has largely defended him despite documented connections to Epstein. Trump denies any wrongdoing and says he parted ways with Epstein years ago.
- Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick remains in office despite emails showing he met Epstein years after initially claiming to avoid him. A spokesperson clarified that his interactions were limited and in the presence of his wife.
- Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon continues to support general counsel Kathryn Ruemmler, despite her receiving expensive gifts from Epstein. Ruemmler has expressed remorse for ever knowing him.
- Dr. Peter Attia, a longevity researcher, remains active despite his emails with Epstein discussing anatomy and his “debauched” lifestyle. Attia denied involvement in any criminal activity.
Some high-profile Americans linked to Epstein, like Larry Summers, Brad Karp, and David Ross, have stepped down from public roles citing embarrassment, but for many elites—including Steve Bannon and Elon Musk—the consequences have been limited to reputational damage.
Musk criticized the lack of criminal accountability:
“What matters is the prosecution of those who committed these horrible crimes with Epstein. Until there is at least one arrest, this is just performative.”
Experts suggest the Trump era’s high tolerance for controversial behavior and political polarization have reduced accountability in the U.S. compared to Europe. Rufus Gifford, former U.S. ambassador to Denmark, said:
“Americans need to look in the mirror. Why don’t we react the same way as Europe? Trump’s approach has certainly filtered through society, but the bigger question is whether this existed before him.”
While Europe scrambles to restore trust, the Epstein revelations highlight the glaring differences in accountability standards between the continents.
