Epstein Files: Europe Arrests PMs, America Protects | Exposed

Europe arrests former prime ministers. America promotes Epstein's friends. Tomorrow, Les Wexner testifies.

The bodies are piling up ,  careers, not corpses. Although with Jeffrey Epstein, the distinction has always been fluid.

In the seventeen days since the DOJ released millions of pages of Epstein files, the damage has been extraordinary. Former prime ministers charged with corruption. Ambassadors fired. Culture ministers forced out. Wall Street's top lawyer gone. The chairman of America's most prestigious law firm ,  resigned. Goldman Sachs humiliated. The British government in crisis.

And in America, the country where Epstein operated, where he died, where his crimes were committed? Donald Trump's Commerce Secretary keeps his job. The Attorney General brings a burn book to Congress to spy on lawmakers investigating the cover-up. And Les Wexner ,  the man the FBI labeled an Epstein "co-conspirator" in a 2019 document ,  will testify tomorrow in a closed deposition, hidden from public view.

The pattern is now undeniable. Europe faces consequences. America provides protection.

The Body Count

Let's count the fallen.

Brad Karp, chairman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, one of America's most powerful law firms,  resigned February 4. Emails showed him thanking Epstein for hosting an evening that was "once in a lifetime" and one he would "never forget." Epstein's response? "There are many many nights of unique talents. You will be invited often."

Many nights of unique talents. From a man convicted of procuring minors for prostitution.

Kathryn Ruemmler, general counsel of Goldman Sachs and former White House counsel to Barack Obama, announced her resignation Thursday. The emails tell the story: Hermès handbags. A Fendi fur coat. An Apple Watch. Spa treatments. Chicken soup when she was sick. She called him "Uncle Jeffrey." She said she adored him.

This wasn't 2007. This was 2016, 2017, 2018,  years after Epstein's conviction, when he was a registered sex offender. Goldman's CEO David Solomon described her as an "excellent lawyer" as recently as December. She now says Epstein was a "monster." The handbags are presumably still in her closet.

Jack Lang, France's former culture minister and a towering figure in French politics, resigned from the Arab World Institute under pressure from President Macron himself. His name appears 673 times in the files. French prosecutors opened an investigation into "aggravated tax fraud laundering." His daughter Caroline, named in Epstein's will for €5 million she claims she never received, resigned from her position leading France's Independent Producer Syndicate.

Thorbjørn Jagland, former Prime Minister of Norway, former Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, former chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the man who decided who gets the Nobel Peace Prize, has been charged with "gross corruption." Norwegian police raided his properties. The Council of Europe stripped his immunity. Emails show him planning family visits to Epstein's homes in Paris, New York, Palm Beach, and the Caribbean island.

In one email, Jagland wrote to Epstein about the 2016 American election: "If Trump wins, I'll settle on your island."

The Nobel Prize committee chairman. Joking about moving to Pedophile Island.

Peter Mandelson, Britain's former ambassador to the United States, was fired in September and resigned from the House of Lords this month. He's now facing a criminal investigation for allegedly sharing market-sensitive government information with Epstein. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who appointed him, has apologized to Epstein's victims and is clinging to his job.

Miroslav Lajčák, Slovakia's former foreign minister and Prime Minister Fico's national security adviser, resigned after emails surfaced showing him discussing women's appearances with Epstein. "I felt like a fool," he said.

Mona Juul, Norway's ambassador to Jordan, resigned after revelations that Epstein left $10 million in his will to her children.

Joanna Rubinstein, chair of Sweden for UNHCR, resigned after a 2012 visit to Epstein's Caribbean Island was revealed.

The list grows daily.

Obama's Gatekeeper

Of all the resignations, Ruemmler's tells the most important story about how power works in America.

She wasn't just any lawyer. She was the lawyer. White House counsel from 2011 to 2014, the person who controlled access to the President of the United States. The gatekeeper. Before that, she was principal associate deputy attorney general. Before that, she helped prosecute Enron. Obama briefly considered her for Attorney General.

Then she left the White House in 2014 and went into private practice. And sometime during those years, she became very close friends with a convicted child sex offender.

The emails show a relationship that went far beyond attorney-client. Spa treatments prepaid by Epstein's assistant, who wrote: "It makes him happy to see you happy." Flowers and chicken soup when she was sick. Discussions about dating issues. Inside jokes. Thousands of pages of correspondence.

"So lovely and thoughtful! Thank you to Uncle Jeffrey!!!" she wrote in 2018.

In 2018. Three years after Epstein's non-prosecution agreement was exposed as a sweetheart deal. A decade after his conviction. When any Google search would reveal what he was.

Goldman Sachs hired her in 2020. She became general counsel in 2021,  the bank's top lawyer, co-chair of its reputational risk committee. The job was to protect Goldman from exactly this kind of scandal.

Goldman's CEO stood by her until the end. Even as more emails leaked. Even as partners questioned why she still had a job. Even as the "Uncle Jeffrey" messages circulated.

She resigned Thursday. Effective June 30. Four more months on the payroll.

The question no one is asking: What did Obama's White House counsel do for Epstein? What doors did she open? What introductions did she make? What protection did her proximity provide?

The files contain thousands of pages of their correspondence. But somehow, we're supposed to believe it was all just handbags and chicken soup.

The Atlantic Divide

Here's what's happening in Europe.

Norway's economic crime unit raids a former prime minister's home. France's financial prosecutor opens investigations. The Council of Europe strips diplomatic immunity. Criminal charges filed. Careers ended. Real consequences.

Here's what's happening in America.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose name appears repeatedly in the files,  testified before Congress this week. He still has his job. His explanation? He cut ties with Epstein before the 2006 charges. The files suggest a longer relationship. But no investigation has been opened.

Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before Congress and spent the hearing attacking the lawmakers investigating the cover-up. She called Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican who demanded Wexner's name be unredacted,  a "failed politician with Trump derangement syndrome." She brought surveillance records of which Epstein files Democratic lawmakers had searched. When caught, she deflected.

Ghislaine Maxwell appeared for a congressional deposition Monday. She pleaded the Fifth to every question. Her lawyer's offer? She'll testify fully and honestly,  but only if Trump grants her clemency. She's "prepared to speak" and will confirm that both Trump and Clinton "are innocent of any wrongdoing."

A convicted child sex trafficker offering to clear the President in exchange for her freedom. And the White House hasn't ruled it out. Trump's answer when asked about a pardon: "I don't rule it in or out."

The only person in prison for Epstein's crimes is bargaining for clemency by offering to exonerate the powerful.

This is how the protection racket works.

Tomorrow: Wexner

And now, the main event.

Leslie Wexner, founder of L Brands, owner of Victoria's Secret, Ohio's richest man, will be deposed tomorrow, February 18, by the House Oversight Committee. Not in Washington. Not in public. In Ohio, in a closed session, with no cameras, no live testimony, no real accountability.

The FBI's own documents, drafted days after Epstein died in 2019, labeled Wexner a "co-conspirator in child sex trafficking." The DOJ redacted his name from the files. When Rep. Massie exposed the redaction, the name was unredacted within 40 minutes. But the damage was done, the pattern was exposed.

Wexner gave Epstein power of attorney in 1991. Epstein managed Wexner's money for decades. Wexner gave Epstein the Manhattan townhouse that became the epicenter of his crimes. Epstein used Wexner's jets, his properties, his name.

In the files, there's a draft message from Epstein to Wexner about "gang stuff" and debts they owed each other. Fifteen years of "gang stuff."

Wexner claims he was a victim. He says Epstein stole $100 million from him. He says he cut ties in 2007 or 2008, depending on which document you believe. He says he knew nothing about the crimes.

He also remains chair of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Board of Trustees. He has donated hundreds of millions to the university. His name is on buildings across campus.

And now a federal judge has ordered him to testify in a separate lawsuit, brought by former OSU students who were sexually abused by campus doctor Richard Strauss. The survivors have been trying to serve Wexner with a subpoena for months. His security and lawyers allegedly thwarted process servers repeatedly. A judge had to intervene.

The man who enabled Epstein. Who the FBI labeled a co-conspirator. Who gave Epstein the house where girls were assaulted. He's being deposed in a closed session, in Ohio, away from cameras, by a committee that won't release the transcript immediately.

If the pattern holds, we'll never see the full truth.

The Protection Racket

What are we looking at here?

In Europe, Epstein's connections face criminal investigations, corruption charges, raids, resignations, consequences. Former prime ministers lose their immunity. Ambassadors lose their jobs. Nobel committee chairs face prosecution.

In America, Epstein's connections become Commerce Secretary. The Attorney General attacks investigators. A convicted trafficker bargains for clemency. The FBI labels someone a co-conspirator and the DOJ redact his name. Congress spies on itself.

The Epstein files aren't just revealing a network of abuse. They're revealing two justice systems: one for the connected, one for everyone else.

NPR ran the headline this week: "Epstein files fallout takes down elite figures in Europe, while U.S. reckoning is muted."

Muted. That's one word for it.

The protection racket is another.

Independent investigations. Imperial expansion exposed. Pattern documented.
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What Comes Next

The Clinton depositions are scheduled for February 26 and 27. Bill and Hillary, under oath, answering questions about Jeffrey Epstein. The committee is fighting over whether it should be public or closed.

More files will be released. More names will emerge. More emails showing the rich and powerful treating a convicted child sex offender as a business partner, a dinner companion, a friend.

And the question will remain: Will America ever face the same reckoning as Europe?

The survivors are watching. The public is watching. The world is watching.

Tomorrow, Les Wexner sits for a deposition behind closed doors. The man the FBI called a co-conspirator. The man who gave Epstein everything he needed to commit his crimes. The man whose name the DOJ tried to hide.

Justice isn't blind in America. It just knows which faces to look away from.

FAQ

Q1: Who has resigned over the Epstein files? A: Major resignations include Kathryn Ruemmler (Goldman Sachs general counsel), Brad Karp (Paul Weiss chairman), Jack Lang (French culture minister), Peter Mandelson (UK ambassador), Miroslav Lajčák (Slovak security adviser), Mona Juul (Norwegian ambassador), and Joanna Rubinstein (Swedish UNHCR official).

Q2: What happened to Norway's former prime minister? A: Thorbjørn Jagland has been charged with "gross corruption" by Norwegian police over gifts, travel, and loans from Epstein. Three of his properties were raided, and the Council of Europe stripped his diplomatic immunity.

Q3: Why did Goldman Sachs' lawyer resign? A: Kathryn Ruemmler resigned after emails showed she maintained a close personal relationship with Epstein after his 2008 conviction, receiving gifts including Hermès handbags, a Fendi coat, and spa treatments. She called Epstein "Uncle Jeffrey" in 2018 correspondence.

Q4: When is Les Wexner's deposition? A: Wexner is scheduled to be deposed by the House Oversight Committee on February 18, 2026, in Ohio. The FBI labeled him an Epstein "co-conspirator" in 2019 documents. The deposition will be closed to the public.

Q5: Did Ghislaine Maxwell testify to Congress? A: Maxwell appeared for a closed deposition February 9, 2026, but pleaded the Fifth to all questions. Her lawyer offered that she would testify fully if President Trump grants her clemency, and would confirm both Trump and Clinton are "innocent of any wrongdoing."

Q6: Why are there more consequences in Europe than America? A: European countries have opened criminal investigations and charged officials over their Epstein connections. In the US, figures like Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick retain their positions despite appearing in the files. Attorney General Bondi has attacked lawmakers investigating the files rather than pursuing accountability.

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Previous investigations: 

The Burn Book documented DOJ surveillance of Congress over Epstein files.

The Shadow Empire exposed how elite capture works across institutions.

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