University removes former US senator bust over Epstein link

A bust of a former United States senator who played a crucial role in Northern Ireland's peace process has been removed from the grounds of Queen's University Belfast (QUB).

It comes after the university confirmed it was severing ties with George Mitchell, over his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

At the weekend, millions of files relating to Epstein were released, including further references to an earlier claim he had sex with Epstein victim, Virginia Giuffre.

In a statement on Monday, issued before the move by QUB, a spokesperson for Mitchell said he never met, spoken to or had any contact with Giuffre or any underage women.

Mitchell's spokesperson said that Mitchell "profoundly regrets ever having known Jeffrey Epstein and condemns, without reservation, the horrific harm Epstein inflicted on so many women".

The spokesperson added that he did not observe, suspect or have any knowledge of Epstein engaging in "illegal or inappropriate conduct with underage women".

Queen's confirmed the move to sever ties with Mitchell to the Talkback programme on Monday.

He was also chancellor of the university from 1999 to 2009.

The university said it was also going to remove the name Senator George J Mitchell, from the Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice.

"While no findings of wrongdoing by Senator Mitchell have been made, the university has concluded that, in light of this material, and mindful of the experiences of victims and survivors, it is no longer appropriate for its institutional spaces and entities to continue to bear his name," it added.

"As a civic institution with a global reputation for leadership in peace, reconciliation, and justice, Queen's University Belfast must ensure that its honours and symbols reflect the highest standards consistent with its values and responsibilities."

In a statement on Tuesday, the university said: "We can confirm the bust has now been removed from campus grounds."

The latest release of documents shows a continued relationship between Mitchell and Epstein, following Epstein's first conviction.

This includes emails about the former senator to and from Epstein, as well as memos with appointments scheduled between the pair.

In an email to Epstein on 4 November 2013, it states Mitchell was due to meet him, as is shown by the entry, "10:30am Appt w/Senator George Mitchell".

Epstein, a well-connected financier and convicted sex offender, was found dead by suicide in 2019 while awaiting a trial on sex trafficking charges.

Mitchell chaired the peace talks that culminated in the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which brought an end to three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles.

Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) assembly member Matthew O'Toole said it was the "right thing to do" for Queen's University to cut ties with former US senator George Mitchell.

O'Toole, who represents the South Belfast constituency where the university is located, acknowledged Mitchell's "significant contribution to peace" but said: "It's not so much about cancelling George Mitchell as thinking first and foremost of the victims (of Jeffrey Epstein)."

On Sunday, the US-Ireland Alliance said the George J Mitchell Scholarship Program would no longer bear his name.

Previous links between Mitchell and Epstein include a handwritten letter from 2003 released in September during an earlier release of files.

Mitchell was previously accused of having sex with Giuffre. He denied the allegations.

Being named or pictured in the files is not an indication of wrongdoing.

On Monday, a spokesperson for Mitchell said: "In the recently released documents, an allegation involving Senator Mitchell by Ms Virginia Giuffre is repeated.

"It was first made public in 2020 and denied at the time. That allegation is based on a case of mistaken identity.

"In 2021, Ms Giuffre supplied a photograph to OK Magazine, which incorrectly captioned it as depicting Senator Mitchell standing behind Jeffrey Epstein. The individual in the photograph was not Senator Mitchell.

"The publisher acknowledged the incorrect caption and removed it."

• Who and what are in the Epstein files?

The spokesperson added that Mitchell learned of Epstein's criminal activity only through media reports linked to Epstein's prosecution in Florida and declined or deflected the few invitations to events extended by Epstein's office in the years that followed.

George Mitchell is a former majority leader in the US senate.

He won admiration from across the political divide in Northern Ireland for his work to boost the peace process, chairing the Stormont peace talks during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Following the failure to set up devolved power, Mitchell acted as a facilitator to implement an inclusive power-sharing executive and the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons.

After a final 36 hours of non-stop negotiations, he led the main parties to agree to the Good Friday agreement on 10 April 1998, a political deal designed to bring an end to 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland.