"For two months, news desks on both sides of the Atlantic have been trawling through the Epstein files, daily releasing sensational details. This one story now years old is crushing out many others. The name of Jeffrey Epstein this past week has claimed precedence over Donald Trump, China, Iran and Ukraine. Each night's BBC television news has demoted Keir Starmer, the NHS, tax reform and student loans."
"For Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons speaker, to pick up some jet-set gossip about Mandelson about to run off to the British Virgin Islands beggars belief. For Hoyle then to pass the gossip on to the police suggests both he and they were suffering Epstein frenzy. And as for the police then apologising to Hoyle for revealing him as their source—what about apologising to Mandelson?"
"The idea is clearly gaining ground that the concept of innocence until guilt is proven is defunct, at least for public figures. The slightest taint of trouble becomes guilty unless innocence is proven—and possibly not even then."
Peter Mandelson's arrest for questioning on misconduct in public office charges sparked controversy over media-driven hysteria surrounding the Epstein files. The arrest followed gossip from Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle about Mandelson allegedly planning to flee to the British Virgin Islands. The police subsequently apologized to Hoyle for revealing him as their source, but offered no apology to Mandelson. The incident reflects broader concerns about the erosion of the presumption of innocence for public figures, where mere association with scandal or unsubstantiated rumors can trigger serious legal consequences. The Epstein story has dominated news coverage globally, overshadowing significant issues including political developments, healthcare, and economic policy.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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