Elites Who Resigned Over the Epstein Files: Full List

Multiple prominent figures in law, politics, international affairs and the arts resigned their posts after the U.S. Department of Justice released a massive trove of Jeffrey Epstein-related records, according to news reports and official statements.

On Friday, the Justice Department published more than 3 million pages of material under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in November.

The batch includes about 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, Newsweek previously reported, and the documents reference a number of prominent individuals, underscoring the need to describe their contents carefully and to separate unverified claims from established facts, since simply appearing in the release is not an indication of wrongdoing.

Brad Karp of the Paul, Weiss Law Firm

Brad Karp resigned as chairman of Wall Street Law firm Paul, Weiss and was replaced by partner Scott Barshay, the firm said, after emails released by the Justice Department showed personal and business communications with Epstein, including dinners and a request for help getting Karp's son work on a Woody Allen film, as reported by Reuters.

"Leading Paul, Weiss for the past 18 years has been the honor of my professional life. Recent reporting has created a distraction and has placed a focus on me that is not in the best interests of the firm,” Karp said in a statement released by the firm on Wednesday.

The firm said Tuesday that Karp "regrets" his interactions with Epstein and did not witness or participate in any misconduct, per Reuters.

Miroslav Lajčák, Slovakia

Slovakia's prime minister accepted the resignation of National Security Adviser Miroslav Lajčák after U.S. files showed he exchanged messages with Epstein in 2017–2018 about women and diplomacy while serving as foreign minister, as reported by the BBC. Lajčák denied wrongdoing but said he stepped down to avoid political ramifications, per Politico.

Reporting from the BBC noted that Lajčák appeared in the tranche of documents and images released by the Justice Department, with Slovak political pressure contributing to his departure, and the Slovak leader describing backlash as an attack on him.

David A. Ross, School of Visual Arts (New York)

Art museum curator and director David A. Ross has left his post at the School of Visual Arts in New York after the latest release of documents about Jeffrey Epstein revealed his friendship with the convicted sex offender.

Ross, who was chair of the MFA art practice program, resigned Tuesday, the school said in a statement, adding that it was "aware of correspondence" between him and Epstein. Ross's online page at the school was offline on Wednesday.

The resignation was first reported by ARTnews.

In emails dating from 2009, Ross banters with, reaches out to meet and consoles Epstein, calling him "incredible" and "I'm still proud to call you a friend."

In one exchange in 2009, Epstein suggests an exhibition called "Statutory" that would feature "girls and boys ages 14-25" where they look nothing like their true ages." Replied Ross: "You are incredible" and noted that Brooke Shields posed nude at age 10.

In an email to ARTnews after his resignation, Ross said that he met Epstein in the mid-1990s when he was director of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. "It was part of my job to befriend people who had the capacity and interest in supporting the museum," he said.

Ross told ARTnews that when Epstein was being investigated again in 2019, he reached out to show his support. "That was a terrible mistake of judgement. When the reality of his crimes became clear, I was mortified and remain ashamed that I fell for his lies."

Joanna Rubinstein, Swedish UNHCR

Joanna Rubinstein resigned as president of the Swedish UNHCR after her contact with Epstein was revealed in the DOJ release, according to reporting by Expressen.

Per the outlet, she visited the late sex offender's private island in 2012. Her resignation was confirmed to the outlet by the Swedish UNHCR.

"Joanna chose to leave her position after what emerged in the media over the weekend. This was not something that the organization or the board previously knew about," a press officer for the Swedish UNHCR told Expressen.

"She chose to leave her assignment to ensure that the organization’s work would not be affected by a situation that occurred long before she became involved in our organization."

In an email to the outlet, Rubinstein said: "It is my own decision to step down as chairman. As I have previously communicated, I met Epstein on one occasion. Apart from this, I have had no other contact with him."

Peter Mandelson, House of Lords (U.K.)

Former U.K. ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords-the U.K. Parliament's upper house-after emails linked him to Epstein, including messages that apparently shared confidential government communications when Mandelson was business secretary during the 2008–2009 financial crisis, prompting U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to refer a dossier to police and pursue legislation to strip Mandelson of his peerage, per The Guardian.

Documents also suggested Mandelson received payments from Epstein, as reported by the BBC. Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party, writing in a letter to the party's general secretary on Sunday, per the outlet: “I have been further linked this weekend to the understandable furore surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I feel regretful and sorry about this.”

He added: “Allegations which I believe to be false that he made financial payments to me 20 years ago, and of which I have no record or recollection, need investigating by me.

“While doing this I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party.

“I want to take this opportunity to repeat my apology to the women and girls whose voices should have been heard long before now.

“I have dedicated my life to the values and success of the Labour Party and in taking my decision, I believe I am acting in its best interests.”

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

Newsweek

This story was originally published February 5, 2026 at 8:54 AM.