Regardless of the Biglaw focus of Above the Legislation, it’s virtually unusual to confer with George J. Mitchell as merely the previous chair of worldwide legislation agency DLA Piper. Whereas completely correct, Mitchell can also be a former senator from Maine, a former Democratic Senate Majority Chief, a former particular adviser and US Particular Envoy for Northern Eire, a key negotiator of the 1998 Good Friday Settlement, a former Particular Envoy to the Center East, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Mitchell was additionally accused by a sufferer of Jeffrey Epstein, Virginia Giuffre, who stated she was instructed to have intercourse with Mitchell by Ghislaine Maxwell.
There’s extra information about Mitchell from the latest launch of Epstein recordsdata. A FBI document from December 2020 described an account of a lady, whose title is redacted, which incorporates having intercourse a number of occasions with Mitchell. Based on the doc, Mitchell requested for a blow job and intercourse and the lady “did what she was advised.”
A spokesperson for Mitchell stated, “Senator Mitchell reiterates unequivocally that he by no means met, spoke with, or had any contact … with any underage girls.”
“Senator Mitchell profoundly regrets ever having recognized Jeffrey Epstein and condemns, with out reservation, the horrific hurt Epstein inflicted on so many ladies,” Mitchell’s spokesperson continued.
In 2019, Mitchell denied the allegation made by Giuffre as “false.” Mitchell continued, “I’ve by no means met, spoken with or had any contact with Ms. Giuffre. In my contacts with Mr. Epstein, I by no means noticed or suspected any inappropriate conduct with underage women. I solely realized of his actions once they have been reported within the media associated to his prosecution in Florida. We’ve had no additional contact.”
Nonetheless, there’s cause to query whether or not Mitchell’s contact with Epstein really led to 2008, when Epstein served time for crimes in Florida. A 2010 document within the latest manufacturing signifies Mitchell returned a cellphone name from Epstein. Paperwork additionally point out a 2013 meeting between Epstein and Mitchell.
And in a 2011 email alternate between Epstein and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem (who’s deeply implicated by the latest launch of recordsdata), Epstein describes Mitchell as a “very shut good friend” in addition to the chairman of DLA Piper.
Because the latest revelations, many establishments are backing off of their affiliation with Mitchell. The Mitchell Institute announced Mitchell resigned from his place as honorary chair of the group, and went on to notice “We additionally agree that that is an acceptable time to provoke a considerate, accountable course of to contemplate a possible title change.” Queen’s College Belfast in Northern Eire is removing Mitchell’s title from its Institute for World Peace, Safety and Justice and eradicating a bust of him on campus. And the US-Eire Alliance removed Mitchell’s title from its scholarship program. There are additionally calls for Mitchell’s Medal of Freedom to be revoked.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Legislation, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the most effective, so please join along with her. Be at liberty to e mail her with any ideas, questions, or feedback and observe her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
