afp/ap/dpa | Several security politicians in the Bundestag have called for a systematic evaluation by German prosecutors of the newly published US documents on the case of US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The German authorities should “take a close look at the Epstein files and, if necessary, ask American authorities for further information,” said Green Party deputy Konstantin von Notz Handelsblatt (Friday edition).
Von Notz demanded information from the federal government about the extent to which German intelligence services and other security authorities were aware of Epstein’s actions as well as the “exploitative, criminal or pedo-criminal networks” behind them and their international connections.
The chairman of the secret service control committee, Marc Henrichmann (CDU), made a similar statement. He told the newspaper that high-ranking decision-makers from society, business and politics were apparently involved in the “unspeakable Epstein machinations”. Handelsblatt. The revelations offer “significant potential for compromise and blackmail.” It must be examined whether this could have influenced decisions “to the detriment of the security of Germany and Europe”. Parliament will ask the security authorities questions about this.
Possible secret service dimension?
The domestic policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Sebastian Fiedler, believed that German references were possible. “In view of the numerous connections in European power circles, it is by no means impossible that connections could also arise in Germany,” he told dem Handelsblatt. Fiedler referred to the close cooperation between German and US investigative authorities in the criminal investigation. He expects German authorities to be involved in relevant cases.
At the same time, Fiedler saw a possible secret service dimension. If the suspicion of a possible Russian influence operation expressed by Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk is confirmed, “it would raise numerous follow-up questions that also concern us here.”
The Justice Department in Washington had a week ago more than 3 million additional documents on the Epstein case were publishedincluding emails, photos and videos. The names of numerous personalities appear there again. Epstein is said to have abused more than 1,000 minors and young women over the decades and passed them on to celebrities. Epstein, who was convicted in 2008, was arrested again in 2019 for, among other things, sexual abuse of minors. About a month later he was found hanging in his New York prison cell; according to official reports, he took his own life.
Former French Minister Lang summoned
Former French culture minister Jack Lang has been summoned by the Foreign Ministry because of his frequent contacts with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Elysée and the Prime Minister’s Office had asked for him to answer questions, it was said in President Emmanuel Macron’s circle on Thursday evening. Lang has headed the Institute for the Arab World since 2013, which is co-financed by the Foreign Ministry. He is expected at the ministry on Sunday. Several politicians called for the former minister to resign, including the head of the Socialist Party to which Lang belongs. “It is disturbing the way he talks about the affair today,” said PS boss Olivier Faure. He suggested that Lang resign “to protect the institution.”
Lang had previously ruled out giving up his post. “Requesting a patron is not a crime,” the 86-year-old emphasized on Wednesday. He had previously admitted that he had asked Epstein for around 58,000 euros for a film about his time in office. However, the film was not made. The name Jack Lang is mentioned more than 670 times in the published Epstein files. “I was maybe a little naive,” Lang admitted. Epstein was “not a friend”, he “didn’t know anything” and broke off contact when he found out about Epstein’s conviction as a sex offender. In fact, Lang can be seen alongside Epstein in a photo in front of the Louvre in 2019.
Epstein arranged a visit to the White House for Woody Allen
It has been known for years that the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had a friendship with US director and actor Woody Allen. Correspondence contained in the US Department of Justice’s latest publication on the investigation into Epstein now shows that the financier used his relationships with an adviser to then-President Barack Obama to organize a tour of the White House for his friend and his wife Soon-Yi Previn. “Could you show me the White House soon,” wrote Epstein, whose correspondence was often riddled with spelling errors, to then-government adviser Kathy Ruemmler in May 2015. “I assume woody would be too politically sensitive?”
Ruemmler replied, “I’m sure I can show them both the White House.” However, she doubted that Epstein could also gain access to the official residence of the president, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to inciting a minor to engage in prostitution. “You’re too politically explosive, I think,” she added. White House records indicate that Allen, Previn and Ruemmler visited the White House on a Sunday, December 27, 2015. Obama was in Hawaii at the time. A request for comment sent to a person who works for Allen and Previn went unanswered. None of them were accused of any involvement in Epstein’s systematic abuse of women and girls.
Norwegian Crown Princess apologizes for Epstein contacts
Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit has publicly asked for forgiveness after criticism over her ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Prince Haakon’s wife said on Friday that she apologized to those she had disappointed. She is sorry that she put the royal family in an unpleasant situation.
The Norwegian princess was mentioned several hundred times in published documents relating to the investigation against Epstein. As Norwegian media reported, Mette-Marit had already said in 2019 that she regretted her previous contacts with Epstein. Among other things, it became known through the publication of documents that Mette-Marit had borrowed a property from Epstein in Florida in 2013.
Investigations against Norway’s former head of government
In Norway will According to the latest publications, the Epstein case is being investigated against the ex-Prime Minister and former Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland. The Norwegian is suspected of serious corruption, as the NTB news agency reported. “We believe that there are sufficient grounds for an investigation,” said the head of the Norwegian Office for Combating Economic Crime, Pål K. Lønseth.
The investigation is intended to clarify whether Jagland accepted gifts, trips and loans during his term as general secretary. According to the NTB, this is implied by information from the files surrounding the case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The documents are intended to show that Jagland had contact with the US businessman several times between 2016 and 2018. During this period, the Norwegian was both Secretary General of the Council of Europe and a member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. He was its chairman from 2009 to 2015.
According to Norwegian media, Epstein and Jagland are said to have discussed real estate purchases. Jagland also planned a vacation with his family on Epstein’s island, but that didn’t happen. As former Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Jagland enjoys immunity. In connection with the investigation against him, the Office for Combating Economic Crime has asked the Norwegian Foreign Ministry to take the initiative to lift it.
World Economic Forum announces investigation
In addition to Jagland, the latest Epstein publications have put several other Norwegians in distress. The Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, for example, has been under great pressure since then: she is said to have exchanged private emails with the convicted sex offender for years. The World Economic Forum has also announced an investigation into the connections of its president, the Norwegian Börge Brende, to the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The WEF wants to “clarify recent revelations” about Brende’s participation “in three business lunches with Jeffrey Epstein as well as subsequent email and text message communications,” the organization said on Thursday. The risk committee decided to “initiate an independent review”.
Brende comes from Norway and was a member of the conservative party there for a long time, as well as environment, trade and foreign minister. Since 2017, he has been president of the WEF, which hosts the famous meeting in Davos in the Swiss mountains every January.
British Prime Minister Starmer refuses to resign
The one about the new Epstein revelations British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is under great pressure has refused to resign. “I intend to continue this important work for our country,” Starmer said on Thursday during a speech in Hastings, southern England. But he also apologized to the victims of the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein because he appointed British Labor politician Peter Mandelson, who was a friend of Epstein, as British ambassador to the US last year.
“I’m sorry for what was done to you, I’m sorry that so many people with power let you down,” Starmer said, “I’m sorry for believing Mandelson’s lies and appointing him.” Epstein’s victims “experienced a trauma that most of us can hardly understand,” Starmer continued. Starmer appointed Mandelson as US ambassador at the beginning of last year released in September following the Epstein revelations.
Mishaps in the Epstein Files: Joseph of Nazareth and dog blacked out
The US Department of Justice made various errors in redacting identifying information about alleged victims of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This is what an audit by the AP news agency and other media organizations revealed: The reporters discovered examples of sloppy, inconsistent or missing redactions in the most extensive publication to date of files from the years-long investigation against Epstein, who, according to official information, took his own life in a New York prison cell in 2019.
A curious footnote to this approach can be attributed to overzealousness: In a newspaper clipping included in the data set, the Justice Department apparently blacked out the name “Josef” from a caption for a nativity play in a California church. “A nativity play showing Jesus, Mary and (REDACTED),” it says. In one email included in the data, one dog’s name also appears to have been redacted: “I spent an hour walking (REDACTED) and then another hour bathing, blow-drying and brushing her. I hope she smells better!!,” the email reads.