Since a massive tranche of the Epstein files was released late last month, many political and business leaders have felt the repercussions from their ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The fallout from the Epstein files has been seen in Europe more so than in the United States, where no government officials have resigned over their interactions with Epstein — namely, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Neither Trump administration official has shown any sign of resigning. They have not been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein’s sexual crimes.
Meanwhile, other powerful people around the world are facing mounting scrutiny over Epstein. Here are some of the most notable figures who have fallen from the Epstein files.
Prince Andrew
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested by British police on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct related to Epstein. The arrest is the latest consequence for the British royal family member.
Mountbatten-Windsor’s royal titles were stripped by King Charles III last fall because of his close relationship with the convicted sex offender.
The king further distanced himself from his younger brother following the latter’s arrest.
“I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office,” King Charles said. “What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and cooperation.”
“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course,” he said. “As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.”
The latest development regarding Mountbatten-Windsor arrived on his 66th birthday. He was released later Thursday but remains under investigation.
Peter Mandelson
The United Kingdom’s former ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, was arrested Feb. 23 by U.K. police at his home, in connection with misconduct stemming from communications with Epstein. He’s been accused of telling Epstein about confidential government tax plans.
Before the arrest, Mandelson stepped down from his posts in the Labour Party and the House of Lords. He was dismissed as U.K. ambassador to the U.S. last year.
Peter Attia
Celebrity doctor Peter Attia resigned from his role at CBS after the latest batch of Epstein files revealed his crude correspondence with the convicted sex offender.
For example, he said in 2016: “P**** is, indeed, low-carb. Still awaiting results on gluten content, though.”
“Dr. Attia’s contributor role was newly established and had not yet meaningfully begun,” a spokesperson for Attia said in a statement, according to CNN.
“As such, he stepped back to ensure his involvement didn’t become a distraction from the important work being done at CBS,” the spokesperson said. “He wishes the network and its leadership well and has no further comment at this time.”
Morgan McSweeney
Morgan McSweeney, a former top aide to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, also handed in his resignation because he had advised Starmer to appoint Mandelson to the ambassadorship. McSweeney gave the recommendation anyway despite knowing Mandelson’s past ties to Epstein.
Starmer’s government has faced intense public scrutiny since the revelations concerning his employees came to light. The prime minister says he does not intend to resign at this time, although mounting pressure could change his mind in the future.
Larry Summers
Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers resigned from his academic and faculty positions at Harvard University on Feb. 25 over his ties to Epstein.
Summers, who was president of the university from 2001 to 2006 after his tenure in former President Bill Clinton‘s Cabinet, has been mentioned and shown in photographs released by the Department of Justice in its Epstein files. Summers began stepping back from public life in November as messages between himself and Epstein were released, but he held on to his teaching roles at the time. Harvard opened an investigation into his communication with Epstein, which included emails where Epstein described himself as Summers’s “wing man.”
Kathryn Ruemmler
Last week, Kathryn Ruemmler announced she plans to resign from Goldman Sachs as its chief legal officer and general counsel by June 30. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, in turn, said he accepted her resignation.
Ruemmler publicly expressed regret for ever associating herself with Epstein, whom she fondly called “Uncle Jeffrey” in multiple emails.
“Since I joined Goldman Sachs six years ago, it has been my privilege to help oversee the firm’s legal, reputational, and regulatory matters; to enhance our strong risk management processes; and to ensure that we live by our core value of integrity in everything we do,” she said. “My responsibility is to put Goldman Sachs’ interests first.”
The attorney once counseled former President Barack Obama during her time at the White House.
Richard Axel
One of the latest figures to face public pressure from being implicated in the Epstein files, Richard Axel, stepped down from his role as co-director of the neuroscience institute at Columbia University. In a Feb. 24 statement, the 79-year-old professor called his past ties to Epstein a “serious error in judgment, which I deeply regret.”
“What has emerged about Epstein’s appalling conduct, the harm that he has caused to so many people, makes my association with him all the more painful and inexcusable,” he said in part. In a separate statement, Columbia said the professor had not broken any university policies or criminal laws in his interactions with Epstein.
“However, Dr. Axel made clear that in light of this past association, and the continued fallout from the release of DOJ files, he felt it appropriate to relinquish his position as co-director,” the university said.
In addition to his leadership role at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Axel resigned as an investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He will now be focusing on research and teaching in his lab. Axel won the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, sharing it with a colleague for their work in discovering 1,000 genes that allow humans to detect more than 10,000 smells.
Thomas Pritzker
Earlier this week, Hyatt Hotels executive chairman Thomas Pritzker retired over his past associations with Epstein and Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Pritzker has been accused of engaging in sexual misconduct by Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein survivor who died by suicide last year. The 75-year-old businessman has denied any wrongdoing.
Newly released documents show Pritzker’s long relationship with Epstein, including a 2018 email exchange in which the late financier asked Pritzker to help set up hotel reservations for a woman traveling through Asia.
In addition to his post at the hotel chain, Pritzker previously managed all the various business assets under his family’s name. His cousin, Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL), is arguably the most well-known Pritzker family member. There is no evidence that the governor had a personal relationship with Epstein.
Borge Brende
The president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum, which hosts the Davos Summit every year, resigned from his post after the WEF launched an investigation into Brende’s connection to Epstein.
“I am grateful for the incredible collaboration with my colleagues, partners and constituents, and I believe now is the right moment for the Forum to continue its important work without distractions,” Brende said Feb. 26.
The DOJ’s release of the Epstein files included messages between Brende and Epstein, including one where Borge said. “Missing you Sir Borge.” The two also discussed Epstein’s involvement with a Middle Eastern leader, and Brende expressed gratitude that the disgraced financier was “giving him council.”
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem
Another prominent figure in the business world, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, also left his position recently amid mounting scrutiny of his ties to Epstein.
In a 2009 email, Epstein was discussing a “torture video” with bin Sulayem. “Where are you? are you ok , I loved the torture video,” the convicted sex offender wrote. The alleged recipient of the email has not directly addressed the conversation before or after he stepped down.
The sultan once served as chairman and CEO of DP World, a ports giant based in Dubai.
The Emirati businessman was one of six men whose names were read aloud by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) on the House floor. Together with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Khanna claimed the names of the six men were improperly redacted from the publicly available Epstein files. The Department of Justice disputes the accusation.
Jes Staley
While Jes Staley resigned as the corporate head of Barclays in 2021, the former banker was caught up in the latest release of the Epstein files.
The documents cite serious allegations of sexual misconduct levied against Staley, who was accused of raping and harming a woman during a massage. He is said to have left “bloody arms” on the woman, whom he called “tinkerbell.”
Staley also discussed another Disney character, Snow White, in his email messages with Epstein. “That was fun. Say hi to Snow White,” Staley wrote. The reference appears to be related to a princess costume worn by a woman, per messages between Epstein and an unnamed individual. Details of this have been circulating online since 2021.
Staley denied any knowledge of the Snow White reference in a British court last year. “I, honest to God, when I went through the emails, I have no idea what this refers to. I have no idea who Snow White is,” he testified.
Sarah Ferguson
Sarah Ferguson has been forced to close her six companies amid the Epstein scandal.
Ferguson is more commonly known as the ex-wife of Mountbatten-Windsor, but she developed an extensive business portfolio after exiting royal life.
WHAT THE DOJ’S EPSTEIN FILES SAID ABOUT PRINCE ANDREW
Each of her six businesses — S. Phoenix Events Limited, Fergie’s Farm, La Luna Investments, Solamoon Limited, Philanthrepreneur Limited, and Planet Partners Productions Limited — is reportedly shutting down. She was listed as the sole director of each business, the nature of which remains unclear.
As of Thursday afternoon, Ferguson had not publicly commented on her ex-husband’s arrest.
