this post was submitted on 07 Feb 2026
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A prince, an ambassador, senior diplomats, top politicians. All brought down by the Jeffrey Epstein files. And all in Europe, rather than the United States.

The huge trove of Epstein documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice has sent shock waves through Europe’s political, economic and social elites — dominating headlines, ending careers and spurring political and criminal investigations.

Former U.K. Ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson was fired and could go to prison. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a leadership crisis over the Mandelson appointment. Senior figures have fallen in Norway, Sweden and Slovakia. And, even before the latest batch of files, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, brother of King Charles III, lost his honors, princely title and taxpayer-funded mansion.

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[–] mcv@lemmy.zip 11 points 16 hours ago

Europe doesn't like pedophiles and corrupt politicians.

We still have them, of course, but we make a bit more of a show of getting rid of them. In the US it seems they mostly stay where they are until people forget about it. I hope they never forget.

[–] pimpampoom@lemmy.zip 5 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Europe still has shame and deals with it. The U.S is shameless and closes their eyes.

[–] AvailableFill74@lemmy.ml 3 points 12 hours ago

God money's not concerned about the sick among the pure
God money, let's go dancing on the backs of the bruised
God money's not one to choose

I will say, that even en the EU (political zone) the files didn't do as much as they should have. What they revealed, besides the horrific abuses, is the level of political meddling of a certain side to bring al right leaders in position of power (see the Steve Bannon records on the lists).

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 1 points 11 hours ago

Yeah, I notice they've only "toppled" centre-right parties though, with far-right parties waiting in the wings.

[–] Ougie@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago

Is that what we call a fallout these days? A couple of fall guys here and there and a prince who dug his own hole with that moronic BBC interview and only lost his title? Gtfo

I'm not satisfied at all. I expect governments to fall, people to go to proper prison (not resorts like Gislaine), institutions to change.

I expect revelations about the role of all the intelligence agencies involved and subsequent reforms.

Who was JE working for? Say it out loud for people to hear.

Why was he blackmailing all these people?

How many like him are out there right now doing the same thing?

What decisions were made by all these compromised people?

Why isn't Andrew being tried?

Why is nobody being tried?

Where's the compensation for the victims?

I didn't read the article but if it's supposed to make us feel good that Europe is doing things, well it isn't.

[–] dipcart@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I love that the toppling of the top figure of prince Andrew was... No more free house, now your family has to secretly pay for your living with tax payer money instead of it being out in the open.

[–] fiat_lux@lemmy.world 5 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

This is the theme of almost all of the "toppling". Mostly they've just... resigned. They probably keep all the perks, and then take up a corporate advisor position once there's less heat.

Headlines like this make it sound like there's been real impact beyond generating articles about a few of the more public figures. But reading article, it's really just a few politicians and bureaucrats resigning. Mandelson's firing was already months ago. The investigation into a former Norwegian PM sounds like that's as harsh as it's got so far for politicians this time. And nothing except one law firm board member resigning for private companies?

They're all getting away with it, and all the victims get is a hundred headlines about Musk being named in the files, and having their lives endangered from the terrible Don-centric redaction.

[–] bstix@feddit.dk 4 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Resignation is often used in these kinds of cases, because there's really no framework to fire them, since they didn't actually violate any of the terms on which they're hired. They should be tried for the crimes they've committed under the jurisdiction of the place where the crime was committed. Not in some random board meeting in a different country.

What happens is that the board says "even if you didn't violate our terms or any local laws, we don't see our organization being able to work with someone like you, so we urge you to do what is best for both parts, which is that you resign voluntarily."

If they don't, then the board can say "the existence of potential criminal cases against you can harm the reputation of our organization, so now you're fired." The outcome is almost the same, but this could create a lot more negative attention to what the company knew about.

[–] fiat_lux@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Oh yes, I understand how they go about smoothing everything over.

But, given the details we know, don't you think:
• one corporate resignation,
• one months-prior bureaucrat firing, and,
• one investigation into a former PM,
is pretty far removed from could be considered a proportional fallout?

[–] bstix@feddit.dk 1 points 12 hours ago

Absolutely, but it isn't up to their employers to punish them.

[–] ParadoxSeahorse@lemmy.world 19 points 1 day ago

Trump, too, has repeatedly faced questions about his ties to Epstein. Neither he nor Clinton has ever been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein’s victims.

Read: the secret service are really doing an amazing job. They are clearly the best most competent agency if they can keep their disgusting reprobate leaders out of the mud. Bill may have been balls deep, but Trump is up to his puffy little eyeballs in this shit. And they’re all just la de da wandering around scot free. Great job USSS!

[–] teslasaur@lemmy.world 17 points 1 day ago (2 children)

The Norwegian Royal family is in complete shambles.

The Crown Princess has been inplicated in the Epstein filse and her son (before being wed into royalty), is currently in a very public trial for rape and sexual misconduct.

Let it burn.

[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 6 points 1 day ago

Despite the apparent rise in republican sentiment and the unusual prime ministerial intervention, the dial hasn’t moved on the status of the monarchy among Norway’s wider political class. In a strange coincidence, a vote that takes places every four years in parliament on making Norway a republic was held on Tuesday. Just 26 MPs voted in favour of getting rid of the monarchy, against 141 who voted to keep it. Support was in fact lower than the last time a vote took place, in June 2022, when 35 voted in favour of a republic. The measure requires a two-thirds majority to pass.

Shame people that can do something about it don't care.

[–] Valthorn@feddit.nu 2 points 1 day ago

I think the crown prince should be given the same choice as Edward VIII: her or the crown.

[–] YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today 16 points 1 day ago

Fucking duh! Did you see who my countrymen elected‽

We have a pedo controlled by pedos .

[–] Jimbel@lemmy.world 16 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (8 children)

The elites are so fucked up. They really think they are something better than the people.

From my pov the parallels to the kings and Queens of feudalism are just to strong. We need powerful rules to cut down power of individuals not just politicians. We need to trim billionaires, trim their money and their influence.

[–] Rooster326@programming.dev 1 points 11 hours ago

Well it would help if you stopped calling them "elites".

[–] Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org 1 points 14 hours ago

The elites rot just like poor people. They just forgot that.

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[–] markovs_gun@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago

It's because Americans don't give a shit about anything. Europeans actually have the balls to do something if their governments but Americans will just let their government do anything as long as the marvel and Disney slop keeps flowing into their troughs.

[–] HazardousBanjo@lemmy.world 104 points 2 days ago (7 children)

"Why isn't the US government prosecuting the pedophilic billionaire death cult?"

My dude, the US government IS the pedophilic billionaire death cult.

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[–] HowRu68@lemmy.world 111 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (27 children)

If I were a conspiracy theorist I would say that the release of the Files were redacted in such a way to topple political adversaries in Europe. I mean that goal is part the Heritage Project 2025.

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 61 points 2 days ago (4 children)

They very obviously redacted things like “don’t” in some PDFs I’ve seen. Hmmm. Don’t. Don T. Wonder why that was done.

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[–] Sp00kyB00k@lemmy.world 44 points 2 days ago

More muted. What a title. You mean, there were zero fucking consequences.

[–] ChunkMcHorkle@lemmy.world 17 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

They released this tranche of Epstein files Friday, January 30, 2026 -- the same day many people across the US were spontaneously protesting against ICE.

It's one thing when you feed the drama mill and send everyone scurrying for whatever little tidbits of meat there are to find in a set of dead files.

It's quite another when across all fifty states people are just showing up voluntarily to reject your claim to power.

Don't be deceived. They released them when they did and in the way they did because the Epstein files, as bad as they are and as wide in scope as they reach, are by far the LESSER danger to this regime and their absolute need to stay in power.

[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 24 points 2 days ago

“Muted” is a weird way of saying that there will be no consequences at all and if you disagree masked men will show up and disappear you or shoot you in the face and call you a terrorist on tv if you’re lucky enough to have someone catch your execution on video

[–] HamFistedVegan@lemmy.world 43 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

It's almost as if the US is an oligarchy and that the ultra wealthy are able to govern the nation with political influence and shield themselves from the law.

This should be a wake up call to all citizens. It doesn't matter who you elect. Your interests will never be represented until this oligarchy is broken up or destroyed.

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[–] Bwaz@lemmy.world 12 points 2 days ago

Has nothing to do with which country is doing the redactions, of course.

[–] umbrella@lemmy.ml 12 points 2 days ago

not a democracy.

[–] slothrop@lemmy.ca 22 points 2 days ago (1 children)

til
More muted = nonexistant !

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[–] lolola@lemmy.blahaj.zone 14 points 2 days ago

"Muted"! Hah!

Hahaha!

(clawing at eye sockets) HAHAHAAA!

[–] Wilco@lemmy.zip 11 points 2 days ago

Because MAGA loves pedophiles ... mostly because it is self love.

[–] blazeknave@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I watch a lot of YouTube about this stuff. Neither the randos nor the mainstream have asked the question I'm thinking 24/7 - how does any other sovereign nation know these files are compiled, involving their own leadership, and aren't suing the US for access?

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[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 9 points 2 days ago

US is the new pedo island from the looks of it

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Well, with the biggest fish in the Epstein sea is protecting his own flock in the US. Here in Europe, there is still public scrutiny and there is justice.

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