USA No further US indictments in Epstein scandal
Further recently published documents from the Epstein files are causing outrage worldwide - but no legal consequences will be drawn in the USA for the time being. Nothing was found during the review that would allow criminal prosecution.
02.02.2026, 13:16
SDA
This is what US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told the US broadcaster CNN. The whole world can now look at the published material and "judge for themselves whether we got it wrong", he said. "There are many horrific photos that appear to have been taken by Mr. Epstein or people close to him, but that doesn't necessarily allow us to prosecute anyone," Blanche said.
The US Department of Justice released a final batch of investigative files on Friday. There are millions of pages, thousands of videos and photos. In one video, Epstein is asked whether he is the "devil himself". The US multimillionaire, who ran an abuse ring for years, clearly does not take the question seriously. The evaluation of all the files by the media and the public is likely to continue for several days.
Epstein also a topic at the Grammys
It is true that many well-known personalities appear in the published material, including US President Donald Trump. However, there is no evidence that the Republican is involved in the scandal. The US President denies having any knowledge of Epstein's criminal activities. Trump claims never to have been to the entrepreneur's private island, which is said to have been the center of the abuse ring.
However, the US president's opponents do not believe him. The Epstein scandal was also a topic at the Grammy Awards in the Democratic stronghold of Los Angeles.
After presenting the Grammy for Best Song to singer Billie Eilish, presenter Trevor Noah said that it was an award that everyone wanted - "just as much as Trump wants Greenland. Epstein's island is gone". Trump needs "a new one," Noah said, to hang out with former President Bill Clinton, who also appeared prominently in the documents. Trump then threatened Noah with a lawsuit. Clinton also denies any wrongdoing.
Consequences in Great Britain
As things stand, the former British Prince Andrew, who fell from grace because of his connection to Epstein, remains one of the few people who have actually had to change their lives as a result of the documents. The brother of King Charles III had to relinquish his offices and dignities and now lives as a commoner.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke out in favor of Andrew's testimony before the US Congress when asked about it by reporters. He had "always said that anyone who has information should be prepared to share that information", he said, "in whatever form". Andrew did not comply with a request from the Democrats to testify in Congress.
In contrast, the former British ambassador to the USA, Peter Mandelson, drew personal conclusions from the scandal late on Sunday evening. The politician resigned his membership of the Labor Party. Following new allegations about his connection to Epstein, he wanted to spare the British governing party "further embarrassment", he wrote in a letter to the party, according to the PA news agency.
Mandelson had been removed from his ambassadorial post in the USA because of his links to Epstein. He had remained in contact with the American even after the allegations came to light. In the course of the recent publication of documents, further Mandelson entanglements came to light. According to British media reports, the files show that Epstein had transferred money to Mandelson in the past. Mandelson describes this as "false allegations".
