Epstein Case: International Investigations, Arrests & Political Fallout

Overview

While the core criminal prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein occurred in the United States, the reverberations of the case have been profoundly international. From France's criminal investigation into Jean-Luc Brunel to the arrest of Prince Andrew in the United Kingdom, from political resignations across Europe to ongoing diplomatic scrutiny, the Epstein case has demonstrated that its scope was never limited to American shores.

This page tracks every significant international investigation, arrest, and political consequence connected to the Epstein case. For the U.S. legal proceedings, see our legal proceedings hub. For the files that triggered much of the 2026 fallout, see the Epstein files hub and DOJ Epstein files.

France

The Investigation

French prosecutors opened a formal preliminary investigation into Epstein-related allegations in August 2019, shortly after Epstein's arrest in New York, according to Reuters. The investigation focused on potential offenses committed on French soil, including at Epstein's apartment on Avenue Foch in Paris.

According to French media and Reuters, the investigation examined allegations from multiple victims who described events in France. The Paris prosecutor's office established a dedicated unit to handle Epstein-related complaints, according to reporting at the time.

Jean-Luc Brunel: Arrest and Death

Jean-Luc Brunel was a French modeling agent who had a documented, long-standing relationship with Epstein. Court filings in the United States, including testimony in the Giuffre v. Maxwell case, described Brunel as a key figure in Epstein's network, according to court records available on CourtListener.

On December 16, 2020, French police arrested Brunel at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he was attempting to board a flight to Senegal, according to Reuters. He was charged with rape of minors and sexual harassment in connection with the Epstein investigation.

On February 19, 2022, Brunel was found dead in his prison cell at La Santé prison in Paris, according to the Associated Press. French authorities ruled the death a suicide. His death effectively ended the French criminal prosecution, as no other individuals had been publicly charged in connection with the French investigation at that time.

The circumstances of Brunel's death drew inevitable comparisons to Epstein's own death in a New York federal facility in August 2019. Both deaths were ruled suicides by authorities, according to official determinations. For context on Epstein's death, see our death investigation analysis.

Current Status of the French Investigation

Following Brunel's death, the French investigation has not resulted in additional public charges as of February 2026. According to Reuters, it remains unclear whether the investigation produced findings that could lead to further action.

United Kingdom

Prince Andrew

The most prominent international figure connected to the Epstein case is Prince Andrew, Duke of York. The timeline of his involvement includes:

November 2019: Prince Andrew gave a BBC Newsnight interview attempting to explain his relationship with Epstein. The interview was widely described as disastrous, according to the BBC and other media outlets. For full analysis, see our BBC interview breakdown.

August 2021: Virginia Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew in the Southern District of New York, alleging sexual abuse when she was a minor, according to court records. Prince Andrew denied all allegations.

February 2022: The lawsuit was settled out of court. Prince Andrew made a substantial donation to Giuffre's charity, according to the joint statement filed with the court. See our settlement analysis.

January 2026: Following the release of additional DOJ Epstein files, Prince Andrew was arrested by UK authorities, according to the BBC. This represented a dramatic escalation and marked the first time a member of the British Royal Family faced criminal arrest in connection with the Epstein case. For the full story, see our Prince Andrew arrest coverage and the Prince Andrew topic hub.

Peter Mandelson

Peter Mandelson, a senior figure in the UK Labour Party and member of the House of Lords, was identified in DOJ Epstein Library documents released in January 2026, according to the files and reporting by the BBC. The documents showed records of meetings between Mandelson and Epstein.

In February 2026, Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party and the House of Lords following the revelations, according to the BBC and Reuters. For the full analysis, see our Mandelson-Epstein explainer.

Broader UK Impact

The Epstein case has prompted broader scrutiny of connections between British public figures and Epstein. According to reporting by the BBC and the Guardian, calls have grown for a formal UK parliamentary inquiry into how Epstein's network operated in Britain.

Norway

Thorbjorn Jagland

Thorbjorn Jagland, former Secretary General of the Council of Europe and former Prime Minister of Norway, was named in Epstein-related documents released in 2026, according to the Associated Press. Norwegian authorities subsequently brought charges against Jagland in connection with revelations from the Epstein files, according to the AP.

The Jagland case represented one of the highest-profile political consequences of the Epstein file releases outside of the United Kingdom. For the broader European picture, see our European resignations analysis.

Slovakia

Miroslav Lajcak

Miroslav Lajcak, a senior Slovak diplomat who served as President of the United Nations General Assembly (2017-2018), resigned from his positions following revelations in the 2026 Epstein file release, according to Reuters. Documents released as part of the DOJ Epstein Library contained references that prompted his departure.

Lajcak's resignation was one of several across European diplomatic and political circles triggered by the January 2026 document release. For the full country-by-country breakdown, see our European resignations analysis.

Other European Consequences

The 2026 Epstein file releases produced a wave of political consequences across Europe that extended beyond the specific cases described above. According to Reuters and the Associated Press, additional developments included:

• Resignations and investigations involving political figures in multiple European countries
• Increased pressure on European law enforcement agencies to cooperate with U.S. investigations
• Calls for parliamentary inquiries in several nations
• Diplomatic tensions arising from revelations about connections between Epstein and serving officials

For the comprehensive analysis of every documented European resignation and investigation, see our European fallout report and the politically exposed persons list.

Patterns Across International Investigations

Several common themes have emerged across the international dimension of the Epstein case, based on court records and verified reporting:

Delayed action: In most countries, significant legal or political consequences did not materialize until the 2026 DOJ Epstein Library release provided documentation that domestic authorities could act upon, according to reporting by Reuters and the BBC.

Document-driven accountability: The pattern across all countries has been that consequences followed document releases — the 2024 Giuffre v. Maxwell unsealing, and especially the January 2026 DOJ release, triggered the most significant international actions.

Unresolved questions: In every country touched by the Epstein case, significant questions remain about the full extent of Epstein's connections and activities. The Brunel investigation in France ended with his death. The UK proceedings against Prince Andrew are ongoing. Other investigations remain at early stages.

What We Know

Based on court records, government statements, and verified reporting:

• France opened a formal investigation and arrested Brunel (December 2020), who died in custody (February 2022)
• The UK arrested Prince Andrew in January 2026 following DOJ file releases
• Peter Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party and House of Lords in February 2026
• Norway brought charges against Thorbjorn Jagland in 2026
• Slovakia's Miroslav Lajcak resigned following the 2026 file release
• Multiple additional European countries have seen political consequences from the files

What We Don't Know

• Whether the French investigation will produce further charges beyond the now-closed Brunel case
• The full outcome of UK proceedings against Prince Andrew
• Whether additional international arrests or charges will follow from the 2026 file releases
• The extent of Epstein's operations in countries beyond those where investigations are publicly known
• Whether international cooperation between law enforcement agencies will expand the scope of accountability

Primary Sources

1. Reuters, Brunel arrest — reuters.com
2. BBC News, Prince Andrew interview and arrest — bbc.com
3. Associated Press, Brunel death and Jagland charges — apnews.com
4. Reuters, European political fallout 2026 — reuters.com
5. BBC News, Prince Andrew arrest 2026 — bbc.com
6. Associated Press, Jagland charges — apnews.com
7. Reuters, Lajcak resignation — reuters.com
8. French prosecutors, Paris investigation — reuters.com

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For the U.S. legal proceedings, see Epstein Legal Proceedings. For the full Prince Andrew story, see the Prince Andrew hub. Browse all case documents in our document library or explore the full timeline.