The Epstein Files are handled differently across the globe

The Lolita connection

Jeffrey Epstein named his plane the "Lolita Express," which should have raised eyebrows. One could infer from this that he was boldly proclaiming that he transported underage girls.

Lolita was a 1962 film about an underage girl who was promiscuous. Most people of a certain age understand what it means to refer to a young girl by this name.

Did anyone who rode on the private jet ever make the connection, or did they care? Now that the Epstein files have been released, reactions across the globe vary.

Docment release is handled differently globally

The document releases in 2026 have continued to put pressure on individuals in India and Israel, which has largely resulted in denials and political protests rather than formal legal penalties so far. In the US, the release of the Epstein files has been slow, raising suspicion about what might be revealed and who will be exposed.

One thing that has come to light recently from the documents is that Donald Trump allegedly said he does not like Black women and referred to them as boogers. Did Trump ever consider that women of color may have had no interest in him?

In European nations, the consequences of being named in the Epstein files have been harsh, ranging from criminal charges, the stripping of royal titles, high-profile resignations, and prison deaths.

Epstein was found in his jail cell in 2008, allegedly dead from suicide. Soon after, France conducted one of the most active international investigations. French prosecutors opened a broad investigation into "rape" and "sexual assault" involving minors linked to Epstein’s frequent stays in Paris.

The European connection

The former French Culture Minister, Jack Lang, though no charges have been filed against him. The most public penalties have been in the UK related to titles and social standing.

Prince Andrew has not been charged with any crimes, but settled a civil lawsuit with accuser Virginia Giuffre for an undisclosed sum (estimated at millions of pounds).

In 2026, King Charles III officially stripped his brother of his royal titles, military honors, and the "His Royal Highness" (HRH). Andrew was also reportedly evicted from his Royal Lodge residence.

Luc Brunel, a prominent French modeling agent and close Epstein associate, was arrested in Paris in 2020 and charged with the rape of minors and sex trafficking. In February 2022, Brunel was found dead in his jail cell at La Santé Prison. As with Epstein, authorities ruled the death a suicide by hanging.

In 2021, Jes Staley, the American-born former CEO of the UK-based Barclays Bank, was forced to resign. In 2023, British regulators fined him £1.8 million and banned him from the UK financial services industry for "recklessly" misleading them about his relationship with Epstein.

Norway and Sweden

In 2026, Peter Mandelson, a high-ranking British Labour politician, faced intense scrutiny and calls for resignation from his advisory roles following revelations in the "Epstein files" regarding his close contact with Epstein.

Joanna Rubinstein, the president of Sweden for UNHCR, resigned in early 2026 after documents showed she had visited Epstein's private island. She later apologized for her association with the alleged pedophile.

The Norwegian royal family faced a scandal when it was revealed that Crown Princess Mette-Marit had met with Epstein multiple times between 2011 and 2013. She issued a formal apology, stating she "deeply regretted" her poor judgment.

Terje Rød-Larsen, a top Norwegian diplomat and architect of the Oslo Accords, resigned as President of the International Peace Institute in 2020 after it was revealed that he secured donations from Epstein and had taken personal loans from him.

Will US citizens ever have the benefit of all the information in the Epstein files? If so, what prominent figures will be named? Time will tell.