Washington/London – U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday made a fresh plea for Americans to move on from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, even as the fallout deepened abroad with prominent British politician Peter Mandelson resigning from the House of Lords amid a criminal probe.
Trump’s Plea at the White House
Facing renewed questions over his ties to Epstein following the release of millions of Justice Department documents, Trump insisted he had been cleared.
“Nothing came out about me other than it was a conspiracy against me, literally, by Epstein and other people. But I think it’s time now for the country to maybe get on to something else like health care or something that people care about,” Trump said.
Trump sought to shift focus onto the Clintons, calling the scandal “a Democrat problem” despite mentions in the files of allies including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and billionaire Elon Musk.
“It’s a shame,” he said of the Clintons.
Clintons to Testify in Congress
Former president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton are scheduled to testify before a U.S. House investigation into Epstein on February 26 and 27. Neither Trump nor the Clintons have been accused of criminal wrongdoing.
The Justice Department’s latest release contained emails, photos, and financial records involving Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019. Some victims’ names were mistakenly left unredacted, prompting petitions for immediate removal. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the documents were withdrawn for further redaction.
Mandelson Resigns Amid UK Probe
Across the Atlantic, former British ambassador to Washington and Labour heavyweight Peter Mandelson announced his resignation from the House of Lords. Hours later, British police confirmed they were investigating him for “misconduct in public office offenses.”
Records released last week suggested Mandelson forwarded confidential economic briefings to Epstein in 2009 while serving as business secretary. Epstein also appeared to have transferred $75,000 to accounts linked to Mandelson between 2003 and 2004.
The revelations have created a political headache for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, while effectively ending Mandelson’s decades-long career.
Royal Fallout Continues
The scandal has also shaken the British royal establishment.
- Police are assessing claims by a second woman who said she was trafficked to the UK for a sexual encounter with former prince Andrew, stripped of his titles last October.
- Newly released images show Andrew kneeling over a woman on the floor. He has denied wrongdoing but paid a multi-million-pound settlement in 2022 to accuser Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide last year.
- Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson has also been implicated through embarrassing emails to Epstein. Her charity, Sarah’s Trust, announced Tuesday it was closing down.
Conclusion
Trump’s call for Americans to move past the Epstein scandal comes as the affair continues to reverberate globally, ensnaring royals, politicians, and public figures across continents. With congressional testimony looming in Washington and criminal investigations unfolding in London, the scandal shows no sign of fading from public view.
