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TRANSCRIPT
A political storm has been growing in the UK since the release of latest tranche of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein last month. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under increasing pressure to resign, after it emerged Peter Mandelson was appointed as ambassador to the US, despite the veteran politician's known ties to Epstein.
The files included emails that suggested Mr Mandelson had shared government documents with Epstein while serving as a Cabinet Minister. Two of Mr Starmer's senior aides - Communications chief Tim Allan and chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, have resigned over the appointment, and the leader of the Labour party in Scotland, Anas Sarwar, says Keir Starmer should join them.
“The leadership in Downing Street has become a huge distraction, and I've had to think about my own priority and my own priority, my first loyalty is to Scotland. And we have an SNP government that is addicted to secrecy and cover-ups with devastating consequences. That's why I have to be honest about failure wherever I see it.”
British Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch meanwhile says the aides should not take the fall - and the Prime Minister is responsible for his own decisions.
“The Prime Minister is the architect of his own misfortunes and all of the chaos and instability we're seeing is completely self-inflicted. This is a Labour psychodrama right now. We're all living in Labour's psychodrama.”
Mr Starmer has already confirmed he was aware of ties between Mr Mandelson and Epstein.
But he says claimed Mr Mandelson repeatedly lied about the depth of his relationship with the disgraced financier before and after his appointment as ambassador.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has joined Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves, Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper and other Labor MPs and ministers in publicly pledging support for Mr Starmer.
“It is completely unacceptable what has come to light in terms of those emails and all of the extensive involvement that Peter Mandelson had with Jeffrey Epstein. But Keir Starmer is not responsible for that.”
But Mr Mandelson isn't the only British national facing scrutiny after the latest Epstein file release.
In the latest batch of files, emails appear to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles, shared official British trade documents with Epstein in 2010.
Thames Valley Police say they are assessing the information provided to them, and weighing up whether to formally investigate the matter.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace has issued a statement in response to the latest allegations against the former prince:
"The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor's conduct. While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police, we stand ready to support them as you would expect.”
Back in the United States, Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell has again made headlines over her links to Epstein.
Maxwell was found guilty in 2021 for her role in helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls, and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Appearing virtually before the Congressional Oversite Committee, which is investigating the federal handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, Maxwell has invoked her Fifth Amendment privilege, and declined to answer all substantive questions.
Attorney Sigrid McCawley, who has represented Epstein survivors in several civil cases, says Maxwell's refusal to answer questions draws out what's already been a painful process.
“This is the longest running sex trafficking operation in US history. So I think the questions are going to linger for a long time as to, you know, how was, how did this go on for so long? How were so many very important, prestigious people involved in this? And you know how did they allow, how is there no adult in the room to say this is wrong? This shouldn't be happening. I think those are questions that are gonna be out there for quite some time. I don't know that for the survivors, there ever will be an end.”
Maxwell's attorney says she would consider answering questions in exchange for clemency or a pardon from President Donald Trump.
But that has drawn criticism from both Republican and Democratic members of the committee, some urging President Trump to rule out the possibility of such a pardon.
Democratic representative Jasmine Crockett says the Oversight Committee remains determined to bring wrong-doing to light.
“We will not be deterred. We will not be distracted. We know who it is that needs to be held accountable. And we will go in and we will make sure that we continue to dig. This will not stop us, because his co-conspirator decided that she was going to try to play games with us this morning. I got news for you, Miss Maxwell. We're not done.”
