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A scholarship named after former US senator George J. Mitchell, recognized for his pivotal involvement in Northern Ireland’s peace process, is set to be renamed following revelations about his connections to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The US-Ireland Alliance, which administers the scholarship, announced the decision to remove Mitchell’s name from the program.
George Mitchell, who chaired the historic peace talks culminating in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that helped end the Troubles in Northern Ireland, issued a statement in response to earlier publicized links with Epstein. He said that during the period of their acquaintance, he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes involving underage girls. The BBC has sought further comments from Mitchell about the recent developments.
The scholarship, established to honor Mitchell’s contributions, has supported numerous US students over the years through the US-Ireland Alliance. In a statement released on Sunday, the organization’s founder and president, Trina Vargo, explained that the board unanimously agreed to the name change based on newly uncovered information released by the Department of Justice concerning Epstein. Vargo emphasized that this change does not diminish the accomplishments of the scholarship recipients or the organization’s dedication to fostering connections between the US and Ireland. She also noted that updating the scholarship’s branding across platforms would take time as consultations continue with stakeholders, including the Irish government.
The controversy stems partly from a letter found in what was known as Epstein’s “birthday book,” in which Mitchell referred to his friendship with Epstein as “a blessing.” This letter surfaced as part of documents released by a US congressional panel meant to mark Epstein’s 50th birthday. At the time, Mitchell expressed deep regret for having known Epstein and the harm caused by him, reiterating that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s actions involving minors. Allegations from 2019 accusing Mitchell of sexual misconduct with one of Epstein’s victims were denied by the senator, who stated in 2024 that the claims were false and that he had never met the accuser
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