European lawmakers push probe into Epstein leaks
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- Members of the European Parliament urge EU agencies to join investigations into links exposed by newly released Epstein leaks.
- Calls grow for Europol and EU anti-money-laundering bodies to assess cross-border financial and political ties.
Lawmakers in the European Parliament are calling for European Union institutions to be involved in investigations into revelations linked to the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein, following the publication of newly released leaks related to his activities and connections.
The demands come amid concerns that the leaked material points to transnational financial networks and political ties that may extend into Europe.
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Security and Defense, said EU bodies should act without delay. In comments to the German newspaper Handelsblatt, she said Europol and EU authorities responsible for combating money laundering “must immediately and systematically assess the available data and cooperate closely with international partners where necessary.”
She added that cross-border networks can only be uncovered effectively through coordinated international cooperation.
European figures under scrutiny
The recent Epstein leaks have placed former European government officials under renewed scrutiny due to alleged financial entanglements with the American billionaire, who was accused of trafficking minors and died by suicide in 2019.
Read more: The truth behind viral ‘Epstein bought Turkish kids’ claim
In Britain, authorities are examining allegations involving former economy minister Peter Mandelson over suspected transmission of sensitive information to Epstein during the global financial crisis. In France, officials are reviewing claims of possible tax evasion linked to former culture minister Jack Lang.
Push for coordinated assessments
Sergey Lagodinsky, vice chair of the Greens group in the European Parliament, said the scale of the leaks requires a European response.
“When there are credible indications of cross-border crimes, money laundering, or political influence, this cannot remain a purely national matter,” he told Handelsblatt.
Lagodinsky said coordinated assessments by Europol and EU anti-money-laundering bodies would complement national investigations and should take place under clear parliamentary oversight.
Security concerns raised
Strack-Zimmermann said the disclosures raise “serious questions that must not stop at continental or national borders.” She warned that if political or economic decision-makers were influenced through blackmail, coercion, or illicit financial flows, the issue would amount to a broader European security problem.
She added that any confirmed evidence of deliberate foreign influence operations would be deeply troubling, noting that authoritarian systems often seek to exploit personal vulnerabilities to undermine democracies from within.
Epstein ran a years-long sexual abuse network involving dozens of girls and young women while maintaining close ties with powerful figures in politics, business, and academia, a duality that continues to fuel scrutiny following the latest leaks.
