UN panel says Epstein abuses may constitute ‘crimes against humanity’

A United Nations panel of experts has suggested that Jeffrey Epstein's abuses may constitute crimes against humanity. The statement, released on February 18, 2026, was in response to millions of files released by the U.S. government related to criminal investigations into Epstein. The experts, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, stated that the scale, nature, and systematic character of the atrocities against women and girls suggest a global criminal enterprise. The panel called for an independent investigation into allegations surrounding Epstein and his associates, who include prominent figures in global politics, business, science, and culture. The condemnation follows the release of 3.5 million pages of files from the U.S. government's records on Epstein, mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

A panel of UN experts has stated that Jeffrey Epstein's files suggest a "global criminal enterprise" whose actions may meet the legal threshold of crimes against humanity. The experts cited the scale, systematic nature, and transnational reach of atrocities against women and girls, committed against a backdrop of racism, misogyny, and corruption. They are calling for an independent investigation into the allegations and how these crimes were allowed to occur for so long. The experts also expressed concern over compliance failures and redaction errors that exposed sensitive victim information in the released documents. The US Justice Department has not yet responded to the statement.