FLASH
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"After many years of investigation, I don't remember ever feeling so shocked."
So says John Sweeney, a writer, documentary filmmaker and journalist for the Observer and the BBC. During his career he has uncovered North Korean secrets, investigated right-wing extremism and been targeted by Tommy Robinson. Today he is considered one of the greatest experts on the Epstein case, thanks to the book “Hunting Ghislaine: Epstein, the Prince and the Presidents”.
According to him, the publication of the latest documents will have "very serious consequences", both for Donald Trump and in the United Kingdom for Prince Andrew and for Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to Washington.
What shocks you the most?
"In any investigation, there is a risk that some information, even if it seems strong, comes from unreliable sources and turns out to be false. This is not the case here. There are photos, videos and concrete evidence that show that relationships that were thought to have been broken off, in fact continued for decades. There are details of payments, trips and parties, with exact dates and places. For Trump, the damage is enormous. This is the end of what was called the "Teflon period", when every scandal slipped through his fingers without consequences. These documents include his closest circle of friends and associates. The fact that the documents were published, hidden and then reopened shows the profound incompetence of the administration. They have opened a serious wound. I am terrified of the idea that ordinary citizens will create a democracy where those in power can have relations with a pedophile, even participate in crimes, and not be punished."
What consequences do you foresee?
"The possibility of an investigation is opening up for Prince Andrew. The images of him appearing on the body of a very young girl are extremely shocking. As for Peter Mandelson, the minimum that is expected is his resignation from the House of Lords and the Labour Party. Documents show that his partner, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, now his husband, received tens of thousands of pounds from Epstein even after he was convicted of sexual exploitation of minors. The main question is what Epstein benefited not from da Silva, but from Mandelson himself, who was a minister in Gordon Brown's government at the time. Epstein had no reason to be friends with da Silva, other than his relationship with Mandelson.
There will be pressure in the US to get to the bottom of it and clean up the situation. We don't yet know exactly what all these documents contain. A full investigation is needed, but that will be difficult as long as Donald Trump is president. One thing is certain: Trump may have cut ties with Epstein after his conviction, but there is a video from 1992 that shows them together, as close friends. They have been friends for more than a decade, attended the same parties and traveled together. If Trump thought he had nothing to hide, he was wrong.
Do the documents show that Epstein used the information for blackmail?
"I'm not sure. I don't think Epstein imagined his emails and messages would be so easily found. I used to think that people like Trump and Bill Clinton didn't share Epstein's sexual orientation. After reading these documents, I'm no longer convinced."
Has your opinion of Ghislaine Maxwell changed?
"These documents have only made it clearer how sick that environment was. She committed very serious crimes and will remain in prison. What is not fair is that she is the only one who has ended up behind bars, while many of the men involved have escaped."
How did her brothers react?
"They are worried about their sister, but at the same time shocked by what she has done."
Do you think Epstein committed suicide?
"There is no evidence that he was murdered. He should have been under surveillance, but mistakes happen in prisons. It is clear to me that he committed suicide. He had realized that everything was over and that there was no way out."
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