Epstein Updates, US And UK

In the US, the most recent Epstein fallout is David Copperfield announces last Vegas show, weeks after Epstein ties revealed

David Copperfield has announced that he is performing his last show at MGM Grand in Las Vegas next month, an announcement that comes weeks after documents released in the Epstein files revealed new details about how the FBI viewed the illusionist’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The announcement that the 69-year-old illusionist’s last show would be held on 30 April appears to have been made suddenly. In a statement praising and thanking Copperfield for his 25-year stint at MGM, the company said in a statement that it would automatically refund tickets for shows that were booked after that date.

while this dog still isn't barking:

House Oversight Chairman James Comer said Wednesday that Jeffrey Epstein's long-time accountant Richard Kahn testified to his panel that he never saw a transaction between Epstein and President Donald Trump.

. . . “Mr. Kahn testified under oath that — because the Democrats asked this question — that he had never seen any type of transaction to Trump or anyone in his family,” Comer told reporters. “That makes the fifth witness now that’s testified under oath that they’ve never seen any involvement by Donald Trump or the family.”

So in the US, the revelations from the Epstein files are tapering off to hit only a few fading C-list celebrities, with confirmation after confirmation that Trump not only wasn't involved, but he reported Epstein to law enforcement.

In the UK, it's a very different matter: The Mandelson files lay bare the depths of Starmer’s poor judgment.

No one forced Keir Starmer to appoint Peter (formerly Lord) Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the United States. Indeed, to many, it was a very odd choice indeed, while some of us welcomed it. There were other names in the frame, there were arguments put forward in favour of a “service” appointment (a career diplomat) as opposed to a political appointment.

Starmer could have gone with the former; he went with the latter. His choice. There was apparently another political appointee who was appointable, according to government papers just released. Starmer went with Mandelson; his choice.

Officials warned him about the potential of reputational damage to the Government (and, of course, the Prime Minister himself). Mandelson was already known as a resigner, as we saw in 1998 and 2001 when he left Blair’s cabinet.

. . . And all of this was on top of the extremely worrying association that Mandelson had with Jeffrey Epstein, as well as with the dead financier’s close friend, Ghislaine Maxwell (currently serving 20 years on child trafficking offences). Starmer had also been told about both of these relationships. But he decided that none of the above was reason enough to reject Mandelson for the top diplomatic job Britain has to offer. His choice. No one else’s.

Speculation over Starmer's ability to continue as Prime Minister began a full month ago, and the newest revelations don't seem to have changed the odds in any significant way. As of February 10,

The release of further Epstein files last week triggered a series of events that left U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer fighting for his political life, despite the fact that he never knew the late financier and sex offender.

Starmer is under pressure over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as U.S. ambassador, despite knowledge of Mandelson’s connections to Epstein. The latest document release by the U.S. Department of Justice revealed more messages between Mandelson and Epstein, including after Epstein had pleaded guilty in Florida to a state charge of felony solicitation of prostitution, a case that involved an underage girl.

Starmer, who is facing calls to step down, has apologized to the victims of Epstein for believing Mandelson’s “lies.”

UK commentators have been circumspect about how the latest revelations will affect Starmer going forward:

We will have to wait for further releases to get a better understanding of what the PM was told and why he took the decisions he did.

Only a small proportion of the documents - expected to run into the tens of thousands - was published on Wednesday, but Darren Jones said the government hope to publish the remainder "soon".

It will give more momentum to a scandal that is hurting Sir Keir with ministers and MPs braced for the dropping of thousands more documents that - if they pass national security clearance - will detail messages between Lord Mandelson and senior government figures for six months before his appointment, and during his time as ambassador.

. . . Two key figures who supported the appointment of Lord Mandelson - Mr McSweeney and the PM's former director of communications, Matthew Doyle - have left government.

But their former boss, who has been battling to survive, is now having to deal with the ongoing consequences of an appointment he clearly deeply regrets.

All of it, as one senior MP told me on Wednesday night, adds to the "general despondency" around this administration.

The contrast between Epstein's potential impact on the UK government and Trump's administration is stark. Starmer has already lost two key people, while speculation continues that between the Epstein-Mandelson revelations and his humiliation at Trump's hands over Iran, his time remaining may be short. Meanwhile, Kristi Noem's departure as Homeland Security secretary had nothing to do with Epstein, and so far, no member of Trump's administration has been directly affected by any Epstein ties.

Dan Bongino left as FBI Deputy Director, but this appears to have been because he was a general hothead and loose cannon, only in part because he was critical of Attorney General Bondi's handling of the Epstein files. Bondi herself may everntually be forced out, but this will be over general questions of competence, including poor communications over the slow release of the Epstein files, but not any direct Epstein connection. And the bottom line is that the Epstein files are fully out, while the Mandelson files in the UK are not.

The Times, though, thinks Starmer will last at least until May: