British lawmakers will vote on whether embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer should face a parliamentary probe over the Peter Mandelson scandal, the House of Commons speaker announced on Monday (April 27, 2026).

Members of Parliament will debate on Tuesday (April 28, 2026) on whether to refer Mr. Starmer to a committee to consider if he misled Parliament over the appointment of the former associate of the late convicted U.S. sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein, Lindsay Hoyle said.

First Lady ‌Melania Trump on Thursday (April 9, 2026) ​denied ever ⁠having a relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and ‌said the claims about it ‌are defaming her. “The ‌lies ⁠linking me with ⁠the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today,” Melania ​Trump said ‌in a rare address from the White House.

She said she ‌had never had ​a relationship with Epstein or his associate ⁠Ghislaine Maxwell, with whom she said ‌she had only a casual correspondence. “I am not Epstein’s victim,” Melania Trump said. Epstein was arrested ‌again in 2019 on ​federal charges of sex trafficking of minors. ⁠His 2019 death in ⁠a Manhattan jail cell was ruled ‌a suicide.

U.S. President Donald Trump removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post on Thursday (April 2, 2026), a White House official said, following mounting frustration with ​her performance, including her handling of investigative files related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey ‌Epstein.

Mr. Trump had also reportedly grown frustrated that Ms. Bondi was not moving quickly enough ​to prosecute critics and adversaries who he wanted to face criminal charges.

During ⁠her tenure as the top U.S. law enforcement official, Ms. Bondi was a combative champion of Mr. Trump’s agenda and dismantled the Justice Department’s longstanding tradition of independence from the White House in its investigations.

But it ‌was repeated criticism over the Epstein files, including from Trump allies and some Republican lawmakers, that came to dominate her tenure. Ms. Bondi was accused of covering ‌up or mismanaging the release of records on the DOJ’s sex trafficking investigations into Epstein, ‌a ⁠financier who cultivated ties with an array of wealthy and powerful figures.

The ⁠issue created political headaches for Mr. Trump and drew renewe dscrutiny of his past friendship with Epstein, which he has said ended decades ago.

Her ouster could lead to a shake-up in strategy at the Justice Department and potentially ​a renewed push to deploy the U.S. ‌legal system against Mr. Trump’s targets. Ms. Bondi is the second senior Trump official to be ousted recently. Mr. Trump removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on March 5 following criticism of her management of the agency and Mr. Trump’s immigration agenda.

Ms. Bondi, a former Republican state attorney general ‌in Florida, said she worked on restoring the Justice Department’s focus on violent crime ​and rebuilding trust with Mr. Trump’s supporters after federal prosecutors twice criminally charged Trump during his years out of power.

Ms. Bondi also faced criticism over the removal ⁠of dozens of career prosecutors who worked on investigations disfavored by Ms. Trump, with critics accusing her of abandoning the DOJ’s traditional focus on even-handed justice. Ms. Bondi defended the rollout of the Epstein files, ‌saying the Trump administration had been more transparent on the issue than previous presidents and that DOJ lawyers worked on a compressed timeline to review reams of material.

During a combative hearing before a House of Representatives panel in January, Ms. Bondi responded to criticism with political attacks directed at lawmakers. She refused to apologise or look at Epstein victims and their relatives who attended the proceedings.

Ms. Bondi early last year played into fevered speculation about the Epstein files, saying a ‌client list was on her desk for review. But after an initial release included material that had largely ​already been public, the DOJ and FBI declared in July that the case was closed and that no further disclosures were warranted.

The move prompted an eruption ⁠of criticism and eventually a bipartisan law passed in November requiring the Justice Department to release ⁠nearly all of its files. The release of roughly 3 million pages of records still did not quell the controversy, as lawmakers criticised redactions in the files and ‌the disclosure of the identities of some Epstein victims.

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Ms. Bondi and she was set to testify on April 14.

The British government published the first documents covering the appointment of ‌Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to Washington on Wednesday (March 11, 2026), reviving questions about Prime Minister Keir ​Starmer’s judgment in employing a man close to Jeffrey Epstein.

The publication of the first ⁠tranche of documents covering the vetting of Mr. Mandelson, under police investigation for allegedly leaking government documents to the late sex offender, does little to reduce the pressure on Mr. Starmer, who is under fire over the appointment and a ‌series of policy U-turns.

The more than 100 pages of documents suggested concerns were raised about the “reputational risks” in appointing Mr. Mandelson, particularly over his friendship with Epstein, but also ‌his previous resignations from government and his support for closer ties with China.

Mr. Starmer sacked Mr. Mandelson from ‌what ⁠is considered the most prestigious posting in Britain’s diplomatic service in September, when the ⁠depth of his friendship with the convicted sex offender started to become clear.

Concerns about ‘reputational risks’

A document labelled “Advice to the prime minister, checks conducted on 4 December, 2024”, said: “After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship ​continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was ‌business minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government. Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein’s House while he was in jail in June 2009.”

In a summary of a fact-finding call between the Prime Minister’s general counsel and the national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, in September, a ‌document said that Mr. Powell found the appointment process “unusual” and “weirdly rushed”.

Mr. Powell said he had concerns about ​Mr. Mandelson’s “reputation” in conversations with Morgan McSweeney, then the prime minister’s chief of staff. According to the note, Philip Barton, then the most senior government official at the ⁠foreign ministry, “also had reservations around the appointment”.

More documents to come

Mr. Starmer’s allies have sought to play down the importance of the first set of documents, saying an ongoing police investigation meant some of the more revealing ‌exchanges were being withheld.

Further documents will be released at a later date, papers which the British Prime Minister’s team say will prove Mr. Mandelson lied to Mr. Starmer about the extent of his relationship with Epstein before his appointment as ambassador in December 2024.

Darren Jones, Mr. Starmer’s Chief Secretary, told lawmakers last month the first tranche of documents would not include any correspondence between Mr. Starmer’s Downing Street office and Mr. Mandelson, when follow-up questions were asked, due to the probe.

Mr. Mandelson, a government Minister when Labour was previously in power ‌more than 15 years ago, quit the House of Lords, the upper house of parliament, in February over his ​links to Epstein. He was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, and later released on bail.

Files released by the U.S. Justice Department in ⁠January included emails suggesting Mr. Mandelson had leaked government documents to Epstein, and that the convicted offender had recorded payments ⁠to Mr. Mandelson or his then-partner, now husband.

Mr. Mandelson has said he does not recall having received payments. He has not commented publicly on allegations he leaked documents, and did not ‌respond to messages seeking comment.

Mr. Starmer has expressed regret over the appointment, saying the Labour veteran had created a “litany of deceit” about his ties to Epstein, an apology that did little ​to quieten opposition voices saying the prime minister should step down.

A Republican-led panel grilled Hillary Clinton on Thursday (February 26, 2026) over her links to Jeffrey Epstein, but she called for Donald Trump to testify about the President’s own connections to the convicted sex offender.

Ms. Hillary Clinton told the congressional committee she had no information about Epstein’s crimes, never recalled encountering him, and had never visited his island or flown on his plane, accusing the panel of trying to “protect one public official” — Mr. Trump.

James Comer, who chairs the committee that will also grill former President Bill Clinton on Friday (February 27, 2026), said “the purpose of the whole investigations to try to understand many things about Epstein” — the deceased convicted sex offender.

Ms. Hillary Clinton challenged the panel saying “if this committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein’s trafficking crimes… it would ask (Mr. Trump) directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files”.

The top Democrat on the committee, Robert Garcia, also called on Mr. Trump to testify “to answer the questions that are being asked across this country from survivors”.

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee is probing those who were linked to Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial.

The Clintons had initially rejected subpoenas ordering them to testify in the panel’s probe, but the Democratic power couple agreed to do so after House Republicans threatened to hold them in contempt of Congress.

Ms. Hillary Clinton said in her opening statement to the panel that it “justified its subpoena to me based on its assumption that I have information regarding the investigations into the criminal activities of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell”.

“Let me be as clear as I can. I do not.”

Democrats say the investigation is being weaponised to attack political opponents of Mr. Trump rather than to conduct legitimate oversight.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Bill Clinton, both 79, feature prominently in the recently released trove of government documents related to Epstein, but said they broke any ties with the financier before his 2008 conviction in Florida as a sex offender.

Mere mention in the files is not proof of having committed a crime.

The Clintons called for their depositions to be public but the committee insisted on questioning them behind closed doors, a move Mr. Bill Clinton denounced as akin to a “kangaroo court”.

The depositions are being held in Chappaqua, New York, where the Clintons reside. Dozens of journalists have converged on the wealthy hamlet.

The Secret Service erected metal barricades around the arts center where the deposition is happening.

Sex trafficking

Mr. Bill Clinton has acknowledged flying on Epstein’s plane several times in the early 2000s for Clinton Foundation-related humanitarian work, but said he never visited Epstein’s private Caribbean island.

Maxwell, 64, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.

She appeared via video-link before the House Oversight Committee earlier this month but refused to answer questions, invoking her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself.

Her attorney, David Markus, said Maxwell would be prepared to speak publicly if granted clemency by Mr. Trump.

Epstein cultivated a network of powerful business executives, politicians, celebrities and academics.

The release of the Epstein case files has had repercussions around the globe, including the arrests in Britain of former prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson, the ex-ambassador to the United States.

A number of prominent Americans have had their reputations damaged by their friendships with Epstein and have resigned their positions, but so far Maxwell is the only person who has been convicted of a crime in connection with late financier.

Democrats on Wednesday (February 25, 2026) accused U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration of the “largest government cover-up in modern history” over reports that it withheld documents relating to allegations that the Republican leader sexually abused a minor.

The Justice Department said it is reviewing its Epstein files to see if any were handled “improperly” but denied any wrongdoing.

The department has released millions of pages from files connected to notorious sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein under a transparency law enacted last year. But public broadcaster NPR found gaps in the files tied to one woman’s 2019 assault complaint against Mr. Trump.

Mr. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, arguing that the DOJ’s so-called “Epstein Files” release exonerated him.

Indexes and serial numbers attached to the investigative materials into Epstein’s trafficking ring indicate that FBI agents conducted four interviews with the accuser and generated summaries and accompanying notes, NPR reported.

Only one summary — focused largely on her allegations against Epstein — appears in the public database.

The remaining three summaries and related notes, totaling more than 50 pages, are not available on the Justice Department’s website, according to NPR‘s review of the document numbering. The New York Times and cable network MS NOW reported similar findings.

“This is largest government cover-up in modern history. We are demanding answers,” the Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said in statement posted to social media.

‘Improperly tagged’

In a statement Wednesday (February 25, 2026) evening, the Justice Department said some media outlets have alleged that files related to Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell are also missing from records released to the public.

“As with all documents that have been flagged by the public, the Department is currently reviewing files within that category of the production,” it said on X.

“Should any document be found to have been improperly tagged in the review process and is responsive to the Act, the Department will of course publish it, consistent with the law,” it said, alluding to the bipartisan bill passed last year that ordered the Trump adminstration to release all its Epstein files.

The woman at the heart of this episode of the Epstein drama first contacted authorities in July 2019, shortly after Epstein’s arrest on federal sex trafficking charges.

Later internal references in the released files describe her as alleging that the disgraced financier introduced her to Mr. Trump and that Mr. Trump assaulted her in the mid-1980s, when she was 13 to 15 years old.

A 2025 FBI document in the public database recounts that claim but does not include an assessment of its credibility. The detailed memos from the follow-up interviews — conducted in August and October 2019, according to the indexes — are not included.

Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said he reviewed unredacted evidence logs at the Justice Department and reached the same conclusion.

“Oversight Democrats can confirm that the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews with this survivor,” Ms. Garcia said, adding that Democrats would open a parallel investigation and demand the missing records be provided to Congress.

The Justice Department argues that any material not posted falls within categories allowed under the law, including duplicates, privileged records or documents tied to an ongoing federal investigation.

Asked for comment, the Justice Department earlier Wednesday (February 25, 2026) referred AFP to a social media response in which it denied deleting files and said documents temporarily removed for victim-related redactions or to remove personally identifiable information will be restored.

Democrats argue that the missing interview records do not fit the categories cited by the department.

A Norwegian ambassador who was involved in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts in the 1990s and most recently served in Jordan has resigned as she faces scrutiny over her contacts with Jeffrey Epstein, the country’s Foreign Ministry said.

The Ministry announced Mona Juul’s resignation on Sunday (February 8, 2026) evening, days after she was suspended as Norway’s ambassador to Jordan. That followed reports that Epstein left the children of Ms. Juul and her husband, Terje Rod-Larsen, $10 million in a will drawn up shortly before his death by suicide in a New York prison in 2019.

Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said Ms. Juul’s decision was “correct and necessary.” Her contact with the convicted sex offender showed a “serious lapse in judgment,” he said, adding that “the case makes it difficult to restore the trust that the role requires.” A Ministry investigation into Ms. Juul’s knowledge of and contact with Epstein will continue, and Ms. Juul will continue discussions with the Ministry “so that the matter can be clarified,” Mr. Eide said.

The Ministry said it also launched a review of its funding of and contact with the International Peace Institute, a New York-based think tank, during the period when Mr. Rod-Larsen headed it. Mr. Eide said Mr. Rod-Larsen also had shown poor judgment regarding Epstein.

Mr. Rod-Larsen and Ms. Juul were among those who facilitated the landmark Oslo Accords aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the 1990s.

Ms. Juul acknowledged in a statement to Norwegian news agency NTB last week that it had been “imprecise” to describe her contact with Epstein as minimal, but said that the contact originated in her husband’s relationship with Epstein and she had no independent social or professional relationship with him.

She wrote that her contact with Epstein had been sporadic and private, not part of her official duties, but acknowledged that she should have been much more careful.

The latest batch of Epstein files has cast an unflattering spotlight on several prominent Norwegian figures. Crown Princess Mette-Marit on Friday (February 6, 2026) issued an apology “to all of you whom I have disappointed” after documents offered more details of her relationship with Epstein.

The country’s economic crimes unit has opened a corruption investigation into former Prime Minister Thorbjorn Jagland — who also once headed the committee that hands out the Nobel Peace Prize — over his ties with Epstein. His lawyer said Jagland would cooperate.