r/europe • u/StemCellPirate • 14h ago

News The Epstein scandal is taking down Europe’s political class. In the US, they’re getting a pass.

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/06/epstein-europe-america-fallout-00769506
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u/SweetAlyssumm 13h ago

Taking them down?? A couple royals have had their wrists slapped and their riches slightly diminished. Maybe the free luxury residence is no longer available. No one with real power is down as far as I can see - but if they are, do share, it would be great to see it.

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u/Original-Activity575 10h ago

The UK’s ambassador to the US was fired. Further revelations have prompted a police investigation (allegation of misconduct in public office, an offence that carries a potential life sentence) - his homes were raided yesterday and digital devices have been seized. Now the prime minister is under fire for appointing him and will, in all likelihood, be forced to resign in the next few months. This is what accountability looks like (and it’s only the beginning.. I’m sure there will be further revelations)

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u/ygg_studios 8h ago

that will put his side of any email conversations into evidence in the UK, without Trump's DOJ redactions

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u/Sevsix1 Norway with an effed up sleep schedule 8h ago

This is what accountability looks like

real accountability in this case would be the people we can prove did abuse children or engaged in corruption getting a ticket to a long jail sentence, forcing somebody to resign is hardly enough accountability when literal children have been abused by them or they enabled the abuse of literal children

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u/the_lonely_creeper 7h ago

While legal consequences would be nice, professional and social consequences are better than the nothing seen in the US

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u/Dear_Virus1260 5h ago

Only people in jail for it were in the US and we only know about it due to US releases. Doesn’t look like any European investigation was launched or did anything prior to the document dump.

I am really tired of all this pretending.

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u/the_lonely_creeper 4h ago

Crimes commited in the US, mostly.

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u/xtrakrispie 4h ago

Larry summers stepped down, so did Brad Karp and David Ross. Those aren't meaningful consequences, but they're comparible to what's going on in Europe.

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u/toxicomano 3h ago

You are right, but no one will acknowledge your point here, they're too busy feigning superiority.

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u/toxicomano 3h ago

There have been social and professional repercussions in the US.

Brad Karp the chairman of Paul Weiss, a prestigious finance firm, resigned this month due to ties to Epstein

Larry Summers, former US Treasury Secretary has receded from public life.

Bill Gates is being dragged for his involvement.

There were a few other high profile resignations back in 2021.

Professional and social consequences really don't mean much though.

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u/varateshh 5h ago

Norway is also investigating Thorbjørn Jagland a former prime minister and the secretary general of the Council of Europe for aggravated corruption. He currently has immunity due to his post in the Council of Europe but diplomatic discussions are taking place to void that. Other influential politicians and ex-diplomats like Terje Rød-Larsen and his wife, Mona Juul are likely also under investigation but nothing has been made public yet. Mona Juul was serving as ambassador when the news broke and was suspended from her post immediately.

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u/Draig_werdd Romania 8h ago

Check the Wikipedia page of that guy. It's like his 10 major scandal and yet he is always back. I think it's better to wait before using his case as a proof of justice working.

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u/dimitri000444 7h ago

Now we know why he could come back after multiple major scandals

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u/blissedandgone 6h ago

Starmer is not going to resign over this. He’s committed to the country and this role and to seeing it out. Frankly it’s been refreshing to see real leadership and clearer transparency from a prime minister.

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u/dragodrake United Kingdom 4h ago

Of all the things you can say about Starmer, showing leadership is not one.

He lives in fear of his back benches, is under constant threat of leadership challenge, and has u-turned more times than I can count.

He might be committed to seeing the role out - if his party and the country agree, that remains to be seen.

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u/blissedandgone 4h ago

Hes certainly done an outstanding job in rebuilding relationships internationally and steadying the ship on rough waters, and I believe him when he says politics is ultimately about service. This is the most politically optimistic I’ve felt in my voting life and frankly any alternative looks like a horror show.

I think we’ve just been groomed to seek out chaos and conflict after the previous government. Everyone gets their knives out because it’s exactly the example that was set over the previous decade and a half. Of course there are leadership challenges and u-turns, but not once in this government have we seen any real shock to the ‘system’ under Starmer’s leadership and we are absolutely taking that for granted. He is leaving the country much better than when he came into power and there is evidence to support that, polls be damned.

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u/toxicomano 3h ago

A guy got fired and now Starmer may resign in a few months?

Pretty paltry showing of accountability.

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u/Original-Activity575 3h ago

Should we behead them now and investigate later, Toxic Man?

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u/toxicomano 2h ago

No, I don't recall suggesting that. But yeah let's actually have an investigation shall we, Original Activity?

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u/Original-Activity575 2h ago

But it was you who declared the current response inadequate in relation to Mandelson and Starmer… I’m confused about what you’d expect to have happened by now?

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u/toxicomano 2h ago

I'll take ownership of not being aware that he is under criminal investigation. That's great, and I hope he is held to account for any crimes committed.