UN spokesperson calls for intensified investigations into Epstein abuses

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UN spokesperson calls for intensified investigations into Epstein abuses

2026-02-21 15:51 Last Updated At：16:07

Stronger international investigations are needed into alleged abuses against women and minors linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Thursday.

Speaking at a press briefing at UN headquarters in New York, Dujarric was asked about the reported arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Britain’s ex-prince and King Charles III’s younger brother, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has previously been accused of close ties with Epstein and of engaging in sexual activity with an underage female at a property linked to Epstein.

Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal and military titles in October 2025 and moved out of Royal Lodge in February this year, where he had lived for more than two decades. Newly released information also alleges he shared confidential government documents with Epstein.

"That's not for us to get involved in, but as we've said before, there should be increased investigations into the abuse of women and girls that we have seen by Mr. Epstein, that spans many different countries and jurisdictions," said Dujarric.

Separately, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability said the same day that it plans to conduct closed-door interviews in New York State next week with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, describing the interviews as related to the ongoing Epstein investigation.

The committee said Hillary Clinton is scheduled to be questioned on Feb 26, with Bill Clinton set to follow on Feb 27.

On Dec 19 last year, the U.S. Department of Justice began publishing Epstein-related documents on its website. The documents make numerous references to former President Clinton. The Clintons have said they were unaware of Epstein's criminal conduct.

A disgraced former financier and one of the most notorious sex offenders in recent decades, Epstein maintained close ties with prominent figures in U.S. political and business circles. He was convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor, arrested again in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges, and died in jail the following month, with authorities ruling his death a suicide.

US Democratic leaders hail Supreme Court's tariffs ruling as 'victory', demand compensation

U.S. Democratic leaders on Friday hailed the Supreme Court's decision of striking down President Donald Trump's sweeping emergency tariffs as "a victory."

"The Supreme Court decision striking down the harmful Trump Tariffs is a big victory for the American people. And another crushing defeat for the wannabe King," U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on X after the decision.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the decision a "win for the wallets of every American consumer."

"Trump's illegal tariff tax just collapsed -- He tried to govern by decree and stuck families with the bill," Schumer wrote on X. "Enough chaos. End the trade war."

California Governor Gavin Newsom went a step further, demanding that President Trump refund everyone affected with interest for what he called an "illegal cash grab" from day one.

His press office cited a Yale Budget Lab report estimating the tariffs cost the average U.S. family 1,751 dollars in 2025.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Trump administration's sweeping tariffs under a law meant for use in national emergencies are illegal. In a 6-3 ruling, the court said that the tariff policies under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unconstitutional, officially striking down the tariffs Trump has introduced since April.

The justices ruled that the president did not have the authority under the IEEPA to impose import tariffs on goods from nearly all U.S. trading partners and the voting upheld that it is the right of Congress to impose taxes, not the president.