A fresh wave of political, corporate and diplomatic fallout has surged from the latest release of files connected to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, triggering a spate of resignations, suspensions and formal probes across several countries. The disclosures, made public by the U.S. Department of Justice under a transparency law, have thrust numerous high-profile figures into reputational and legal scrutiny, even as officials emphasise that inclusion in the files does not, by itself, indicate criminal conduct.

Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, cultivated an extensive network of contacts spanning politics, business and cultural institutions. The newly released materials — comprising millions of pages of documents, thousands of images and videos — have shown communications and interactions between Epstein and leaders or influencers in multiple sectors.

One prominent resignation came from Brad Karp, the longtime chairman of the major U.S. law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Emails disclosed in the Justice Department records showed Karp maintaining a friendly correspondence with Epstein, including invitations to social events and personal requests, prompting his departure amid mounting pressure and media attention.

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International political figures have also been affected. In Slovakia, Miroslav Lajčák, the nation’s national security advisor and former foreign minister, resigned after messages showed him discussing personal matters with Epstein. In Norway, diplomat Mona Juul has been suspended pending an investigation into her alleged connections, while former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland is under police inquiry over his email exchanges with Epstein.

Other impacts include organisational reviews and resignations outside government: officials in France and at cultural institutions have stepped down or faced calls to do so following revelations tied to Epstein’s files. At the same time, some veteran public figures, including a Nobel Prize committee chair and global forum leaders, are facing independent reviews of their interactions with Epstein.

U.S. Justice Department leaders have downplayed the likelihood of new criminal charges arising directly from the releases, asserting that much of the material lacks credible evidence for prosecution. Nonetheless, the unfolding resignations and investigations underscore the broad reputational consequences the Epstein legacy continues to inject into political and institutional spheres worldwide.

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