United News of Bangladesh

Essex Police said it is assessing information related to private flights into and out of Stansted Airport following the publication of the Jeffrey Epstein files by the US Department of Justice. Police sources said the assessment does not automatically mean a full criminal investigation will be launched. A BBC investigation last year revealed that at least 87 flights linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein arrived at or departed from UK airports between the early 1990s and 2018, with dozens of additional flights to the UK identified later. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote recently that police urgently need to re-examine whether Epstein’s victims were trafficked within the UK or taken abroad, saying the scale of abuse would become clearer through a full investigation of flight records. In a statement, Essex Police said it is reviewing information linked specifically to private aircraft movements at Stansted Airport after the release of the Epstein files. In December, the BBC reported that flight records appeared to include three British women who were allegedly trafficked, alongside other documents connected to Epstein. Lawyers representing hundreds of Epstein’s victims in the US said it was shocking that no full-scale investigation into his UK activities had ever taken place. Brown said Stansted, located about 40 miles from central London, was among the airports where women were transferred between Epstein’s aircraft. He has written to senior officers in the Metropolitan Police, Essex Police and Thames Valley Police urging renewed scrutiny. Stansted Airport said all private jets operate through independent fixed-base operators and that passengers on such flights do not enter the main terminal. Immigration and customs checks are carried out directly by UK Border Force, the airport authority added. The National Police Chiefs' Council said a new national group has been formed to support police forces assessing allegations arising from the Epstein files. Separately, Thames Valley Police is reviewing claims that a woman was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Prince Andrew, who has denied any wrongdoing. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police launched a criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson over allegations he passed sensitive information to Epstein. Mandelson has denied any criminal conduct and previously apologised for maintaining links with Epstein.   With a inputs from BBC

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has accused the administration of President Donald Trump of deliberately delaying the release of files linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, alleging a “cover-up” in their handling. Speaking to the BBC in Berlin on the sidelines of the annual World Forum, Clinton said the documents should be made fully public without delay. “Get the files out. They are slow-walking it,” she said, arguing that transparency is essential and that everyone should be treated equally. The White House rejected the accusation, saying the administration has released thousands of pages of material and has done “more for the victims than Democrats ever have,” while also cooperating with congressional requests. Asked whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should testify before a US congressional committee, Clinton said anyone asked to testify should do so. She stressed that appearing in the files does not imply wrongdoing, noting that Andrew has consistently denied any misconduct. Millions of documents related to Epstein were made public earlier this month after Congress passed legislation requiring the US Department of Justice to release investigation materials. While the Justice Department says it has met the legal requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, several lawmakers argue the disclosures remain incomplete and have called for the release of internal decision-making memos. Epstein died in a New York jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, more than a decade after a previous conviction involving a minor. His death came as scrutiny over his network of powerful associates intensified. Prince Andrew has faced renewed pressure from US officials and from the family of his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, to testify about his links to Epstein. He has denied wrongdoing and settled a civil case in 2022 without admitting liability. Giuffre died in 2025. Both Clintons are due to testify before the House Oversight Committee later this month, with Bill Clinton scheduled to appear a day after Hillary Clinton. A planned contempt vote against the couple was dropped after they agreed to testify, marking the first time since 1983 that a former US president will appear before a congressional panel. Bill Clinton, who is mentioned multiple times in the Epstein files, has said he cut off contact with Epstein years ago. Neither of the Clintons has been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein’s victims, and both have denied knowing about his criminal activities at the time. Hillary Clinton said she and her husband have called for the hearings to be held publicly. “We have nothing to hide,” she said, adding that she believes the focus on the Clintons is being used to divert attention from Trump, who is also mentioned frequently in the files but has denied any wrongdoing. Clinton said she had met Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell on a few occasions, while reiterating her call for full disclosure of all relevant documents, saying public scrutiny remains the best safeguard.   With inputs from BBC

Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland has been charged with gross corruption over his links to convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Norwegian police said. The charge was filed after the Council of Europe lifted Jagland’s diplomatic immunity, which he held due to his former role as secretary general of the organisation. His lawyer said Jagland denies criminal liability and is ready to cooperate with investigators. Norway’s economic crime unit Økokrim has searched three of Jagland’s properties and is expected to question him as part of the investigation. Authorities launched the probe earlier this month into alleged acts of gross corruption said to have taken place between 2011 and 2018, during Jagland’s tenure at the Council of Europe. Documents released by the US Department of Justice, often referred to as the Epstein files, suggest Epstein may have covered travel expenses for Jagland and his family to visit properties in Paris, New York and Palm Beach. A planned family trip to Epstein’s private Caribbean island in 2014 was later cancelled. There are also allegations that Jagland sought Epstein’s help in securing a bank loan, although it remains unclear whether this occurred. Police have not confirmed whether that claim forms part of the charge. Being named in the US files does not in itself indicate wrongdoing. Jagland served as Norway’s prime minister from 1996 to 1997 and later chaired the Norwegian Nobel Committee. He was secretary general of the Council of Europe from 2009 to 2019. The case comes amid wider scrutiny in Norway after US authorities released millions of emails, images and investigative records related to Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Several other Norwegian public figures have faced investigation or review over alleged links to Epstein, including diplomats and senior officials. Some have denied wrongdoing, while others have apologised for past associations. The investigation into Jagland is ongoing.   With inputs from BBC

US Attorney General Pam Bondi faced tough questions from lawmakers on Wednesday over the handling of files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a heated House Judiciary Committee hearing. Bondi defended the Justice Department’s release of millions of documents, saying officials tried to protect victims’ identities and that any errors were immediately corrected. Several Epstein survivors attended the hearing and criticized the department for mishandling redactions. Lawmakers, including Republicans, pressed Bondi over the removal of certain names from the files, including billionaire Les Wexner. Bondi said some questions were “theatrics” and that officials were following legal timelines for the release. FBI Director Kash Patel said there was no evidence Epstein trafficked women to Wexner. California Democrat Ted Lieu raised the case of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, whose images appear in the files. Bondi suggested Lieu take the matter up with former Attorney General Merrick Garland. Lawmakers also questioned Bondi on federal immigration agents’ fatal shootings in Minneapolis. Bondi defended the federal response, saying protests had been incited by elected officials opposing law enforcement.   With inputs from BBC

A former police chief in Florida told the FBI that Donald Trump called him in 2006 and said “everyone” knew about Jeffrey Epstein’s behaviour, according to a newly released FBI document. The document summarises a 2019 FBI interview with the former Palm Beach police chief, who said Trump contacted him after local authorities began investigating Epstein. According to the record, Trump said: “Thank goodness you’re stopping him, everyone has known he’s been doing this.” Although the officer’s name is blacked out in the document, it identifies the interviewee as the Palm Beach police chief at the time of the Epstein investigation. That position was held by Michael Reiter, who later told the Miami Herald that he received the call from Trump. President Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein and has said he was unaware of his crimes. The reported call could raise fresh questions about what Trump knew at the time. In 2019, after Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges, Trump told reporters he had no suspicions about him. “No, I had no idea. I had no idea. I haven’t spoken to him in many, many years,” he said. According to the FBI interview summary, Reiter said Trump told him in July 2006 that he had expelled Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club and that “people in New York knew he was disgusting.” Reiter also claimed Trump described Ghislaine Maxwell as Epstein’s “operative” and said “she is evil and to focus on her.” Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for helping recruit underage girls for Epstein. The former police chief further told the FBI that Trump said he had been around Epstein when he was with teenage girls but “got the hell out of there.” The document also states that Trump was among the “very first people to call” Florida police after learning about the investigation. In 2006, Palm Beach police were investigating Epstein over allegations of sexually exploiting underage girls. The case was later transferred to federal prosecutors. In 2008, Epstein reached a controversial plea deal that included a non-prosecution agreement shielding him from more serious federal charges. In a statement to the BBC, a US Justice Department official said authorities were not aware of any evidence confirming that the president contacted law enforcement two decades ago. Epstein associate Maxwell refuses to testify, seeks clemency At a White House briefing on Tuesday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the reported call “may or may not have happened in 2006” and that she did not know the answer. “What President Trump has always said is that he kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club because Jeffrey Epstein was a creep,” she said. “And that remains true in this call. If it did happen, it corroborates exactly what President Trump has said from the beginning.” The BBC has contacted Reiter for comment. Trump and Epstein were seen together socially and photographed in the 1990s. The president and the White House have maintained that he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes and ended contact with him around 2004, years before Epstein’s first arrest. Trump has said their relationship ended after he learned Epstein was trying to recruit employees from Mar-a-Lago. “When I heard about it, I told him, we don’t want you taking our people,” Trump said in July. “He was fine and then not too long after that he did it again and I said ‘outta here’.” The renewed attention comes after Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence, testified virtually before the US House Oversight Committee on Monday. During the closed-door session, she declined to answer questions and invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, according to committee chairman James Comer. Maxwell’s lawyer said she would be willing to speak “fully and honestly” if granted clemency by President Trump. Trump has said he has not considered pardoning her.    #With inputs from BBC  

Britain’s King Charles has expressed “profound concern” over new allegations linked to his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as police consider whether to open an investigation connected to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. In a statement issued on Monday, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King has made clear, both in words and through unprecedented actions, his deep concern about allegations that continue to emerge regarding Andrew’s conduct. The Palace said that while the specific claims are for Andrew to address, it stands ready to support Thames Valley Police if approached, as would be expected. Thames Valley Police confirmed it is assessing whether there are sufficient grounds to investigate a complaint lodged by the anti-monarchy group Republic. The group has reported Andrew for suspected misconduct in public office and an alleged breach of official secrets. The police review follows the release of a large new batch of documents related to Epstein. Emails contained in the files appear to suggest that Andrew, during his time as a UK trade envoy, shared official reports and confidential information with Epstein. According to the documents, Andrew is alleged to have forwarded official summaries of visits to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam to Epstein on November 30, 2010, shortly after receiving them from his then special adviser. Separate emails also appear to reference confidential investment opportunities in Afghanistan that were shared with Epstein later that year. Under official rules, trade envoys are required to maintain strict confidentiality over sensitive commercial, political and diplomatic information linked to their official duties. The Buckingham Palace statement added that the King and Queen’s “thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse”. Earlier on Monday, while the King was carrying out engagements in Lancashire, a protester shouted a question about Andrew, which was met with disapproval from others in the crowd. The Palace intervention followed an earlier statement from Kensington Palace, where a spokesperson for the Prince and Princess of Wales said they were “deeply concerned” by the latest Epstein-related revelations and that their thoughts remained with the victims. Since the latest document release, pressure has intensified on Andrew, with renewed claims about his past links to Epstein. The disclosures have also caused embarrassment for his former wife Sarah Ferguson, after emails attributed to her appeared in the files. Last week, Andrew was moved earlier than expected from Royal Lodge in Windsor to the King’s private Sandringham estate. In October 2025, following an earlier wave of Epstein-related revelations, he was stripped of his remaining royal titles. Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Being named in the Epstein files does not, in itself, amount to evidence of misconduct.   With inputs from BBC

The US government has released millions of pages of documents linked to late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, revealing connections to numerous high-profile figures worldwide, including Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, and former US President Donald Trump. The latest release, on January 30, contains around three million pages, 180,000 images, and 2,000 videos. Officials emphasized that inclusion in the documents does not indicate any wrongdoing. Many previously named individuals have denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes. The release follows the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Trump in November, mandating the public disclosure of all documents related to Epstein. Lawmakers have criticized the administration for delaying full disclosure. Among the notable figures, Elon Musk was shown corresponding with Epstein about travel plans, while Gates faced emails allegedly drafted by Epstein, which he and his representatives have dismissed as false. Trump appears in hundreds of entries, largely based on unverified tips, and has consistently denied any misconduct. British royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Sarah Ferguson, and Lord Mandelson also appear in the files, though context is often unclear, and they have denied wrongdoing. Other figures mentioned include Steve Bannon, Ehud Barak, Sergey Brin, Peter Attia, Brett Ratner, and Noam Chomsky, who engaged in communications with Epstein in various capacities. Responses from those named stress that the records do not prove criminal conduct, with several emphasizing they had no knowledge of Epstein’s illegal activities or severed ties long before his death. The massive release has renewed scrutiny on Epstein’s network, prompting resignations, investigations, and public debate over accountability among the world’s elite.   With inputs from BBC

Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state, have agreed to testify before a congressional committee investigating the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, just days before lawmakers are due to vote on whether to hold them in criminal contempt of Congress. The decision follows months of standoff with the Republican-led House Oversight Committee, which late last month approved a motion to hold the Clintons in contempt for failing to comply with subpoenas. Several Democrats backed the move. Confirmation of the Clintons’ agreement came on Monday evening from Bill Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, Angel Ureña, who said the couple would appear before the panel. However, it remains unclear when the depositions will take place. If it goes ahead, the testimony would mark the first time a former US president has appeared before a congressional committee since Gerald Ford did so in 1983. Bill Clinton has acknowledged past contact with Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, but has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. He has said he severed ties with Epstein more than 20 years ago and has never been accused of wrongdoing by survivors of Epstein’s abuse. Ureña said the Clintons had previously cooperated by providing sworn written statements and sharing what they described as limited information they possessed about Epstein. He criticised the committee’s approach, accusing it of acting in bad faith and pursuing partisan objectives. The Clintons have dismissed the subpoenas as an attempt to embarrass political opponents, alleging the move was politically motivated. In a letter sent last month to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, they accused him of mishandling the investigation and said the panel’s actions had hindered efforts to uncover facts about the government’s role in the Epstein case. Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, has rejected those claims, noting that the subpoenas were authorised by a bipartisan vote and insisting that no one is above the law. He said the committee had given Clinton’s legal team multiple opportunities to appear voluntarily, accusing them of repeatedly delaying. Epstein’s private jet flight logs show that Bill Clinton took four international trips aboard the financier’s aircraft in 2002 and 2003. Photographs released by the US Department of Justice last December also show Clinton at Epstein’s estate, including images of him swimming in a pool and relaxing in what appears to be a hot tub. Clinton’s spokesman said the images were decades old and predated any public knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. The Oversight Committee’s investigation forms part of a broader congressional effort to review government handling of Epstein’s case, following the release of large volumes of previously sealed records mandated by law.   With inputs from BBC

Veteran British politician Lord Peter Mandelson has resigned from the Labour Party, saying he does not want to further embarrass the party following renewed controversy over his past links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a letter to Labour’s general secretary, Mandelson said he was “regretful and sorry” after being named in newly released documents by the US Department of Justice. The files, made public on Friday, appear to reference three payments of $25,000 each allegedly connected to Mandelson in 2003 and 2004. Mandelson said allegations that Epstein made financial payments to him around two decades ago were false, adding that he has no record or recollection of receiving such money. He said he would look into the matter but decided to step down from party membership in the meantime to avoid causing further damage to Labour. In his letter, Mandelson again apologised to the women and girls abused by Epstein, saying their voices should have been heard much earlier. He said his resignation was taken in what he believed to be the Labour Party’s best interests, stressing his long-standing commitment to its values. Earlier, Mandelson said he could not confirm the authenticity of the newly released documents but repeated his regret for having known Epstein and for maintaining contact after Epstein’s 2008 conviction. He offered an “unequivocal” apology to the victims. Labour MP Gordon McKee said Epstein’s victims would be “rightly outraged” by the latest revelations and said Mandelson had taken the correct step by resigning. The Conservative Party criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, saying Mandelson should have been expelled rather than allowed to resign, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called for his suspension and a formal investigation. Housing Secretary Steve Reed said the government had not been aware of the alleged financial links when questioned by the media. Mandelson, a prominent Labour strategist and former cabinet minister, was appointed UK ambassador to the United States in December 2024 but was removed from the post less than a year later following earlier disclosures about his association with Epstein. He has remained on leave from the House of Lords since his ambassadorial appointment. The newly released files include bank records, first reported by the Financial Times, that appear to show three payments referencing Mandelson. One payment in May 2003 was sent to a Barclays account linked to Reinaldo Avila da Silva, identified as Mandelson’s partner at the time, while two further payments were made to HSBC accounts in June 2004. It is unclear whether the funds were ultimately received. The documents also include redacted images showing Mandelson standing next to a woman, as well as emails indicating he remained in contact with Epstein after his conviction. Mandelson has said he cannot recall the circumstances of the photograph and stressed that being named or pictured in the files does not imply wrongdoing. Epstein was convicted in 2008 in the United States on charges including soliciting underage girls and later died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The latest disclosures form part of the largest release so far of Epstein-related records under a US law mandating their publication.   With inputs from BBC

A newly released trove of US Justice Department documents linked to investigations into Jeffrey Epstein has named a wide range of powerful men, including tech billionaires, former heads of state, royalty and senior political figures, renewing scrutiny of their past associations with the disgraced financier. None of those named have been charged with crimes connected to Epstein’s sexual abuse of girls and young women, and all have denied involvement in his crimes. However, the files show that several maintained friendships or contacts with Epstein even after allegations against him became widely known. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Among the most prominent figures is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, whose name appears hundreds of times in the documents, including in Epstein’s private emails. He has long faced allegations from the late Virginia Giuffre that she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with him when she was 17, claims he has repeatedly denied. Late last year, King Charles III stripped him of his remaining royal titles. The files also include references to Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s former wife, who publicly apologised in 2011 for allowing Epstein to help pay off her debts. Emails show she later sought Epstein’s advice on handling media questions about their relationship, despite earlier pledging to cut all ties with him. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk appears several times in emails discussing possible visits to Epstein’s Caribbean island in 2012 and 2013, though it remains unclear whether any visit took place. Musk has said he repeatedly rejected Epstein’s invitations. Companies linked to him did not respond to requests for comment. Virgin Group founder Richard Branson exchanged numerous emails with Epstein, including invitations to Branson’s own Caribbean island. Branson’s company said there was no wrongdoing, stressing that any contact was limited to business or group settings and ended once serious allegations against Epstein became clear. The documents contain thousands of references to US President Donald Trump, largely involving shared news articles, political commentary and gossip. A Justice Department summary of tip-line calls alleging misconduct by prominent figures, including Trump, noted that many claims were unsubstantiated and deemed not credible by investigators. Former US President Bill Clinton, who previously acknowledged traveling with Epstein decades ago, is also referenced. His representatives say he severed ties after Epstein faced criminal charges in 2006. No Epstein victim has publicly accused Clinton of wrongdoing. Other figures named include Steven Tisch, co-owner of the New York Giants, who acknowledged exchanging emails with Epstein about adult women but denied any illegal conduct; film director Brett Ratner, who appears in photographs with Epstein and others; and Casey Wasserman, head of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics organising committee, who exchanged flirtatious emails with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell and later expressed regret. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is shown to have stayed in contact with Epstein for years, including after his 2008 conviction. Barak has said he never witnessed any inappropriate behaviour. Larry Summers, former US Treasury secretary and ex-Harvard president, is also cited frequently, later describing his interactions with Epstein as a serious error of judgment. Howard Lutnick, US Commerce Secretary under President Trump, appears in records showing visits to Epstein’s island with his family, though the Commerce Department said his interactions were limited and he has not been accused of wrongdoing. Google co-founder Sergey Brin, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon and several other political and business figures are also referenced. The files further reveal that Miroslav Lajcak, Slovakia’s national security adviser and a former foreign minister, resigned after his past contacts with Epstein emerged. He has said the interactions were related to diplomatic duties and denied any misconduct. US officials have stressed that being named in the documents does not imply criminal behaviour. The Associated Press, along with other media organisations, is continuing to review the files as part of a collaborative examination of the newly released records.