WASHINGTON / LONDON / OSLO — New developments related to the release of the long-awaited Jeffrey Epstein Files continued to reverberate across political and diplomatic spheres on Tuesday, intensifying scrutiny of global elites once linked to the disgraced financier.
In Washington, lawmakers and advocacy groups pressed for greater transparency as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) allowed members of Congress to inspect previously redacted sections of more than three million pages of investigative material tied to Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation. House members, including Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), revealed that at least six additional men previously obscured in the files are now considered “likely incriminated,” although many records remain heavily censored.
The disclosures have sparked bipartisan frustration. Massie and Khanna criticized redactions initiated under former administrations, alleging that some shielding of names may have been politically motivated and at odds with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Despite the latest access, lawmakers acknowledged that significant barriers remain before the full public release can occur.
The fallout extended beyond U.S. borders. In Europe, Norway launched a formal investigation into senior diplomatic figures with ties to Epstein. Prominent diplomats Mona Juul and her husband, Terje Rød-Larsen, are now under scrutiny by Norway’s financial crimes unit over alleged corruption linked to Epstein’s financial bequests — including a reported $10 million legacy to their children. Juul resigned from her post as ambassador to Jordan and Iraq amid mounting pressure.
Meanwhile in the United Kingdom, political pressure mounted as documents resurfaced suggesting former British Ambassador Peter Mandelson had conducted private business with Epstein, prompting questions over public office misconduct. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced intensified criticism and calls for accountability, though he has defended his government’s handling of the situation.
Back in the United States, Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate and convicted sex trafficker, declined to provide testimony during recent congressional hearings, opting to plead the Fifth Amendment instead. Advocates for victims decried her refusal as emblematic of the broader challenges survivors face in seeking accountability.
Despite mounting pressure from survivors, who released a video message urging full release of the files on Super Bowl Sunday, the DOJ has defended its careful approach to redactions — citing concerns over victim privacy and legal deliberative processes.
The emerging list of implicated figures — whether through direct involvement, social contacts, or financial ties — continues to fuel public debate about how Epstein maintained influence among powerful networks prior to his 2019 death in a federal jail. As lawmakers, international investigators, and survivors push for more unredacted documentation, the Epstein Files saga is rapidly evolving into a landmark investigation with far-reaching political and diplomatic consequences.