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Epstein file revelations spark probes, controversy in Europe

February 10, 2026
Epstein file revelations spark probes, controversy in Europe

The tentacles of theJeffrey Epsteinsaga, especially since the Justice Department released millions of additionalpages, extend beyond the United States and into the top echelons of several European nations, prompting intense scrutiny of the powerful people who associated with the wealth manager.

The latestbatch of documentshas revealed Epstein's network of friends and associates reach beyond his Caribbean island and East Coast circles into the gilded palaces of two of Europe'sroyal familiesand touch some of the highest offices of foreign governments.

More:Who is in the latest Epstein files release? Documents reveal new names

While inclusion in the files does not indicate a person is a criminal suspect, it does, in some cases, show a person had social or business connections. Several people in European power circles are facing inquiries or investigations, while others have stepped down from various professional roles.

A painting of former U.S. President Bill Clinton wearing a dress is displayed inside the Manhattan home of Jeffrey Epstein in this image from the estate of late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, released by the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., U.S., on December 19, 2025. What appears to be a stuffed tiger is shown in Jeffrey Epstein's Manhattan home in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, DC on Dec. 19, 2025 as part of a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. <p style=What appears to be outdoor furniture is seen in a photo released by US Department of Justice from one of Jeffrey Epstein's properties.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Photograph featuring a dental chair in a room with wooden floors and walls, adorned with carved faces, a window, and woven baskets nearby. The image shows a wooden nightstand in a bedroom with an open lower cabinet door. Inside the open cabinet, several items, including watches, are visible. On top of the table sits a lamp with a square, world-map-patterned shade and a blue water bottle. A room with fire fighter gear is seen on Epstein's private island. A statue of a female wearing a white dress and veil, hanging onto a rope in a stairwell in the interior of the home of Jeffrey Epstein is shown. What appears to be a stuffed dog in seen in Jeffrey Epstein's Manhattan home. What appears to be a figurine is seen in a photo released by US Department of Justice from one of Jeffrey Epstein's properties. A view of a bathroom is seen in a photo released by US Department of Justice from one of Jeffrey Epstein's properties. A view of a statue draped in a wedding gown is seen in a photo released by US Department of Justice from one of Jeffrey Epstein's properties. A statue is seen on a mantle in a photo released by US Department of Justice from one of Jeffrey Epstein's properties. A view of a bathroom is seen in a photo released by US Department of Justice from one of Jeffrey Epstein's properties. A view of what appears to be speakers and a device below a sink is seen in a photo released by US Department of Justice from one of Jeffrey Epstein's properties. What appears to be medical equiptment is seen in a photo released by US Department of Justice from one of Jeffrey Epstein's properties. Clothing is seen in a photo released by US Department of Justice from one of Jeffrey Epstein's properties. Masks hang on the wall in a photo released by US Department of Justice from one of Jeffrey Epstein's properties.

Epstein's house was filled with odd objects. See the photos.

While Epstein's connections to leaders in business, academia and government have been known for years, the DOJ'sJan. 30 document drophas provided a wider sense of the relationships cultivated by Epstein, who died awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Many maintained contact with him even after his conviction in 2008 for soliciting a prostitute and procuring a child for prostitution in Florida. His plea required him to register as a sex offender in 2009.

UK government under fire over Epstein emails

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing calls to step down, including from some within his own party, in connection with the Epstein files after he appointed Peter Mandelson, a friend of Epstein, as ambassador to the United States. (Starmer himself is not in any of the released documents.) Details of Mandelson's friendship with the late wealth manager became public after the latest round of documents from the DOJ revealed he'd corresponded with Epstein after he was a registered sex offender in 2009.

A little over a week after the Jan. 30 document dump, two of Starmer's aides have resigned: Communications chief Tim Allan and Starmer's top aide, Morgan McSweeney, who said he took responsibility for advising on the appointment of Mandelson to Britain's top diplomatic role. Mandelson has also resigned from the House of Lords.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer talks with Britain's ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador's residence on February 26, 2025, in Washington, DC, U.S.

British police are investigating Mandelson over allegations of "misconduct in public life" after he was accused of passing market-sensitive information to Epstein when he was business secretary under former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown over a decade ago. Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.

Two royal families ensnared in Epstein controversy

Among the most well-known European figures who the documents show to have had yearslong friendships with Epstein are members of two royal families:Norway's Princess Mette-Maritand the United Kingdom'sAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III.

While Mountbatten-Windsor's relationship to Epstein has been known for years, the January document dump was the first time the Norwegian princess's correspondence became publicly available.

More:King Charles' brother Andrew crouches over woman in new Epstein photos

Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal titlein October 2025 andpushed out of his vast homeat Royal Lodge after reports of his association with Epstein hit a fever pitch. He wasousted as a senior royalthree years prior. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a prominent Epstein accuser who died by suicide in 2025, alleged she was sexually abused by the former royal multiple times when she was 17 years old. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied the allegations.

Norway's Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit attend the ceremony to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, in Oslo, Norway December 10, 2025.

The latest release has only intensified scrutiny of the former prince, with the country's prime ministerurging him to testifyto U.S. lawmakers and forcingPrince William and Princess Kate to speak outabout the controversy after years of silence. Britain's King Charles said in a statement Feb. 9 released by Buckingham Palace that the palace isready to support the policeas they investigate allegations against the king's brother.

Princess Mette-Marit, the Crown Princess of Norway, exchanged dozens of emails with Epstein, some as recently as2014.The emails contradict a 2019 comment from the Royal Palace that she'd broken off contact with Epstein in 2011, according to theNorwegian tabloid VG.

Mette-Marit, wife of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon, has apologized for maintaining contact with Epstein, saying she displayed poor judgment. In her most recent statement, released Feb. 6, she apologized again, "for the situation that I have put the royal family in, especially the King and Queen."

Norway's prime minister on Feb. 9 said that Mette-Marit and other prominent Norwegians named in the recently released Epstein documents should provide more details about their involvement with Epstein.

Norway opens investigations into ex-leader and diplomats

Norwegian authoritiesannouncedthey are investigating two former ambassadors and a former prime minister over corruption tied to the Epstein files. All were known to have had ties to Epstein, but the new files have provided more details on their relationships and dealings with the late money manager.

Norway's Ambassador to the United Nations Mona Juul addresses the United Nations Security Council at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S., April 5, 2022.

The country's economic and environmental crime unit said in a statement on Feb. 9 it had conducted searches at two locations tied to former ambassador Mona Juul and her husband, Terje Rød‑Larsen. The pair is being investigated over charges of aggravated corruption and contribution to aggravated corruption. Authorities had opened a separate corruption investigation into former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland several days prior due to his alleged links to Epstein.

Jagland served as prime minister from 1996 to 1997, and also held top positions as chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and secretary general of the Council of Europe.

The diplomatic couple, Juul and Rød‑Larsen, helped facilitate contacts between the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Israeli government that led to the 1993-1995 Oslo Accords. Juul had been Norway's ambassador to Jordan and Iraq upon the latest Epstein file release, and has stepped down from the position. Rød‑Larsen is a former Deputy Prime Minister.

The files suggest that the couple and their children visited Epstein's island, and were named in a version of his will released in the Epstein documents. The two children stood to inherit $5 million apiece from him, according toReuters.

French and Slovakian officials scrutinized, among others

Jack Lang, a former French culture minister, has stepped down from his role as the head of a cultural center in Paris following allegations he previously had financial ties to Epstein. The allegations have triggered a tax investigation. Lang denies wrongdoing and has described the allegations against him as "baseless."

Lang was the head of the Arab World Institute, an organization that promotes exchanges between France and Arab nations. In a letter to Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, viewed by the AFP news agency, Lang said that he would submit his resignation at the next board meeting of the Arab World Institute. Lang served as France's culture minister between 1981 and 1993. He later served as minister of education.

Miroslav Lajčák, an ally of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and his national security adviser, resigned after it emerged in documents from the Epstein files that he had exchanged text messages with Epstein about women and diplomacy. The texts date from when Lajčák was Slovakia's foreign minister in 2018.

In a statement, Lajčák said he was resigning to avoid causing any political damage to Fico. He denied any wrongdoing. He also condemned Epstein's alleged crimes.

Contributing: Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY; Reuters.

Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@usatoday.comand on X @KathrynPlmr. Sign up for her daily politics newsletterhere.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Epstein file revelations spark probes, controversy in Europe

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US to expand passport revocations for parents who owe child support, AP sources say

February 10, 2026
US to expand passport revocations for parents who owe child support, AP sources say

WASHINGTON (AP) — Parents who owe a significant amount of child support soon could lose their ability to travel internationally as the Trump administration expands and steps up enforcement of a 30-year-old law that allows the federal government to revoke American passports until payments are made, three U.S. officials told The Associated Press.

While passport revocations for unpaid child support of more than $2,500 have been permitted under 1996 federal legislation, the State Department had in the past acted only when someone applied to renew their travel document or sought other consular services. In other words, enforcement depended on the person approaching the department for assistance.

Starting soon, however, the department will begin to revoke passports on its own initiative based on data shared with it by the Health and Human Services Department, according to the U.S. officials familiar with the plan. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the change has not yet been publicly announced.

The number of people who could be affected was not immediately clear, but it is believed to be in the thousands. Because of the potentially large universe of those owing child support who currently hold passports, the State Department will make the change in tiers, the officials said.

The first group to be affected will be passport holders who owe more than $100,000 in past-due child support, the officials said. One of the officials said fewer than 500 people meet that threshold and could avoid having their passport revoked if they enter into a payment plan with HHS after being notified of the pending revocation.

The official acknowledged, though, that if and when the threshold is lowered to a smaller past-due amount, the number of those affected will rise significantly. The official could not say when any further changes would take effect or estimate how many people might then lose their passports.

In an emailed response to the AP's queries about the change, the State Department said it "is reviewing options to enforce long-standing law to prevent those owing substantial amounts of child support from neglecting their legal and moral obligations to their children." It added: "It is simple: deadbeat parents need to pay their child support arrears."

Since the Passport Denial Program began with the 1996 passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, the initiative has taken in nearly $621 million in past-due child support payments, with nine collections of more than $300,000, according to the Office of Child Support Enforcement at the Department of Health and Human Services.

HHS did not respond to questions about how many people are in arrears.

Associated Press writer Ali Swenson contributed to this report.

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Immigrant rights groups seek to dismiss a Republican lawsuit to exclude noncitizens from US census

February 10, 2026
Immigrant rights groups seek to dismiss a Republican lawsuit to exclude noncitizens from US census

Immigrant rights groups are seeking to toss out a Republican lawsuit that would prohibit theU.S. Census Bureaufrom counting people who are in the U.S. illegally during the 2030 census.

The groups said the lawsuit filed late last month by Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway would violate the law and require a recount of the U.S. population from 2020, costing billions of dollars.

"That unlawful request would distort representation for millions of Americans and shake the foundations of our representative democracy," said the motion from the immigrant rights groups, which are seeking to intervene and are being represented by several ACLU Foundation chapters.

The lawsuit is the latest effort by Republicans to exclude people who are in the U.S. illegally or other noncitizens from the census figures. Those numbers guide thedistribution of federal moneyand determine the number of congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state receives in a process known as apportionment.

The Missouri lawsuit asks that theapportionment processthat used the 2020 census figures be redone without including people in the U.S. illegally and that the process after the 2030 census be conducted in the same manner.

A similar lawsuit filed by four other GOP state attorneys general is pending in federal court in Louisiana, and Republican lawmakers in Congress have introduced legislation that would accomplish the same goal.

ARepublican redistricting experthad written that using only the citizen voting-age population, rather than the total population, for the purpose of redrawing congressional and state legislative districts could be advantageous to Republicans and non-Hispanic whites.

The Constitution's 14th Amendment says "the whole number of persons in each state" should be counted for the numbers used for apportionment. The Census Bureau has interpreted that to mean anybody living in the U.S., regardless of legal status.

The Missouri lawsuit comes asPresident Donald Trump has been pressuringRepublican-led state legislatures to redraw their congressional districts to benefit the GOP ahead of this year's midterm elections. Last August,Trump instructedthe Commerce Department to have the Census Bureau start work on a new census that would exclude immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally from the head count.

Intervenors recentlysucceeded in getting another lawsuitagainst the Census Bureau tossed out. A three-judge panel in Tampa last week dismissed a challenge by Republican groups to the agency's statistical methods during the 2020 census.

During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledged that citizenship wasn't a factor in the apportionment process under the Constitution. When asked if a citizenship question would be included, he said the agency hadn't determined the questions on the 2030 census form yet. The Commerce Department oversees the Census Bureau.

"What the questionnaire is, I don't know, and we've not decided," Lutnick said.

Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky:@mikeysid.bsky.social.

Follow the AP's coverage of the U.S. Census Bureau athttps://apnews.com/hub/us-census-bureau.

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Montana linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu granted ninth year of eligibility by NCAA

February 10, 2026
Montana linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu granted ninth year of eligibility by NCAA

Montana linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu will return for the 2026 season after being granted a ninth year of eligibility by the NCAA.

Associated Press

The school announced Tuliaupupu's return onsocial mediaon Monday alongside sixth-year offensive lineman Dylan Jemtegaard.

Tuliaupupu will be entering his second season at Montana after starting his collegiate career at USC in 2018. He was sidelined for his entire undergraduate campaign at USC after two surgery-requiring injuries impacting his foot (2018) and knee (2020).

The linebacker's first season at Montana — and eighth overall — was just his second full season played and third with game action.

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He saw the field for the first time as a redshirt senior in 2022, appearing in all 14 games for theTrojansand recording 10 tackles, including three for a loss, and one quarterback hurry.

Tuliaupupu returned to the sidelines with another injury in 2023 and missed the wholes season. He wrapped up his USC career in 2024, playing in seven games for the Trojans before his season was cut short due to illness. He transferred to Montana in 2025.

Tuliaupupu will play under new Montana coach Bobby Kennedy. Kennedy is succeedingBobby Hauck, who wasnamed defensive coordinatorat Illinois on Monday after a brief retirement.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign uphere. AP college football:https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollandhttps://apnews.com/hub/college-football.

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Winter Olympics 2026: Norwegian biathlete wins bronze, admits to cheating on girlfriend in post-race interview

February 10, 2026
Winter Olympics 2026: Norwegian biathlete wins bronze, admits to cheating on girlfriend in post-race interview

An Olympic cheating scandal was revealed at theMilan Cortina Olympicson Tuesday, but it had nothing to do with performance-enhancing drugs orcrotch manipulation.

Yahoo Sports ANTHOLZ-ANTERSELVA, ITALY - FEBRUARY 10: Bronze medalist Sturla Holm Laegreid of Team Norway is embraced by Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold of Team Norway after the medal ceremony for the Men's 20km Individual on day four of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Anterselva Biathlon Arena on February 10, 2026 in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Norway's Sturla Holm Lægreid won a bronze medal in the 20km biathlon and used his post-race interview to reveal that he had cheated on his girlfriend.

Speaking toNorway's NRK, Lægreid saidthat he told his partner last week about his unfaithfulness.

"Six months ago I met the love of my life. The world's most beautiful, sweetest person," Lægreid said through tears. "And three months ago I made the biggest mistake of my life and cheated on her."

The 28-year-old Lægreid, who won gold at the 2022 Olympics in the 4x7.5km relay and is a seven-time world champion in five different biathlon disciplines, expressed his desire to share this medal moment with his partner. He added that while people may see him differently after his confession, he "only has eyes for her."

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Fellow Norwegian Johan-Olav Botn won gold in the event in his Olympic debut. Lægreid said he felt bad about using the post-race moment to overshadow Botn's accomplishment.

"Now I hope I didn't ruin Johan's day," Lægreid said. "Maybe it was really selfish of me to give that interview. I'm not really here, mentally."

At a post-race press conference, Lægreid said he decided to reveal his infidelity on Tuesday in the hopes that there is a chance his partner "will see what she really means to me."

Will Lægreid's global confession lead to a rekindling of their romance? He sure hopes so.

"I hope there's light at the end of the tunnel for both of us," Lægreid told NKO following the medal ceremony. "And that she can still love me."

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Sam Darnold, Kenneth Walker share adorable moment in Disneyland teacups

February 10, 2026
Sam Darnold, Kenneth Walker share adorable moment in Disneyland teacups

Seattle might be known for coffee, but recently, the teacups took center stage instead.

To the victors go the spoils. The Lombardi Trophy, some nice rings, but also the famed trip to Disneyland.

BeforeSam Darnold, Kenneth Walker III and otherSeattle Seahawksplayers make it back to the "Emerald City" to celebrate theirSuper Bowl 60 win, they had an opportunity to decompress and take in the sights and sounds of the "Happiest Place on Earth."

That includes paying a visit to the one of the theme park staples: The spinning teacups.

Cameras caught Darnold and Walker enjoying a spin on the teacup ride in Disneyland, sharing a moment that can best be described as adorable – even if the enthusiasm levels not quite reaching that of other, lesser-aged attendees:

Sam Darnold and Kenneth Walker in the tea cups 🤣pic.twitter.com/MfZJm5X9EI

— Seattle ON Tap (@SeattleONTap)February 10, 2026

All things considered, a relaxing ride in the teacups probably ranks just above a jacuzzi break after taking a beating during the NFL season.

The Seahawks downed the New England Patriots in a 29-13 Super Bowl 60 win, a game that wasn't nearly as close as the score indicated. Darnold and Walker provided most of the offense for the game, with the quarterback's touchdown pass to A.J. Barner the dagger for Seattle.

The teacup ride also might be one of the last times the two do something as teammates. Walker,the Super Bowl MVP, is a pending free agent, and his future in Seattle is murky at best.

For now, as Seahawks, they'll have a memory that will last a lifetime – and the Super Bowl win was probably nice, too.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Sam Darnold, Kenneth Walker go for a spin in Disneyland teacups

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Government unseals affidavit filed in support of Fulton County election raid

February 10, 2026
Government unseals affidavit filed in support of Fulton County election raid

Federal authorities unsealed Tuesday the affidavit they filed in support of their search of a Fulton County, Georgia,election officelast month, following an order by a federal judge.

FBI agents on Jan. 28 seized 700 boxes containing ballots and other materials associated with the 2020 election from the county's  Elections Hub and Operations Center after obtaining a search warrant. President Donald Trump has repeatedly made baseless claims that there wasvoter fraudin the 2020 election, specifically in Georgia, that contributed to his election loss.

U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee, a Trump nominee, on Sunday ordered the government to unseal the affidavit that was filed in support of the search warrant, subject to "the redaction of the names of non-governmental witnesses."

Fulton County files motion seeking return of seized 2020 ballots, spokesperson says

In his ruling, Boulee noted that the government did not oppose the unsealing of the affidavit, which could provide more information on the search and the investigation that lead to it.

The ruling came after Fulton County Chairman Robb Pittsfiled a motionseeking the unsealing of the affidavit, as well as the return of the election documents that were seized.

Pitt's office said Tuesday it was reviewing the affidavit and that he would hold a news conference in the afternoon.

Pitts had earlier said in a statement he was "pleased" with the judge's ruling.

"Fulton County will continue to pursue every legal option to seek the return of election records and to defend our elections from possible takeover," Pitts said. "Even in the midst of this unprecedented legal action, we will not allow our staff to be deterred or distracted from preparations for the 2026 election, which will be once again free, fair, transparent and legally compliant."

While the judge on Sunday ordered the release of the affidavit that was the basis for the search warrant, the warrant itselfauthorized the FBIto search for "All physical ballots from the 2020 General Election" in addition to tabulator tapes from voting machines and 2020 voter rolls, according to a copy of the warrant that was obtained by ABC Atlanta affiliate WSB following the raid.

WSB - PHOTO: The FBI confirmed there is court authorized activity at the Fulton County Election Hub and Operation Center, Jan. 28, 2026.

The warrant said the material "constitutes evidence of the commission of a criminal offense."

The warrant listed possible violations of two statutes -- one which requires election records to be retained for a certain amount of time, and another which outlines criminal penalties for people, including election officials, who intimidate voters or to knowingly procure false votes or false voter registrations.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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