Borge Brende, President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, resigned yesterday following an internal investigation into his association with Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex crimes in 2008. This marks the latest development in a global reckoning as European authorities intensify probes into political and business figures named in recently unsealed Epstein-related documents.
While European leaders face swift scrutiny, the U.S. Department of Justice has drawn criticism for its slower pace in addressing allegations against prominent Americans linked to Epstein post-conviction. At least three U.S.-based executives and philanthropists resigned this month after evidence emerged of their continued ties to Epstein following his 2008 guilty plea for soliciting a minor.
Legal experts note the resignations reflect growing public pressure for accountability rather than conclusive legal findings. “These exits show reputational risk now outweighs institutional tolerance for Epstein associations, even from the pre-2015 era,” said Columbia University ethics professor Dr. Amara Wijesekera.
The developments coincide with renewed calls from survivor advocacy groups for transparent investigations across both public and private sectors. As the World Economic Forum begins its leadership transition, observers await further repercussions in global financial and political circles.
