Miroslav Lajčák has stepped down from his role as adviser to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico after his name appeared in newly released documents linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Lajčák said he decided to leave his post to prevent the controversy from harming the Slovak government or the prime minister.
The documents, made public in the United States as part of court proceedings, refer to email communication between Epstein and Lajčák dating back to 2018, when the latter was serving as Slovakia’s foreign minister. The material does not accuse him of any criminal activity, but its publication prompted political and public scrutiny.
Both opposition parties and the governing Slovak National Party had called for his departure in recent days. Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Andrej Danko (SNS) does not have a problem with Lajčák because of his private communication with sexual predator Epstein, but because he leaked important information. He stated this in the prime time Sunday discussion show on national public STVR. According to Michal Šimečka, the head of the opposition PS party, Lajčák should have resigned with the first news about him having privately corresponded with Epstein.
In press statements provided to Slovak press agency TASR, Lajčák strongly condemned Epstein’s crimes and said he could not confirm the authenticity of the specific messages, noting that any communication was informal and carried no substantive content. He also denied ever being offered or participating in sexual activities suggested in the files and said any discussions with Epstein were part of his diplomatic duties. Lajčák denies that he arranged a meeting between Robert Fico and then-advisor to the US President Steve Bannon.
Prime Minister Fico accepted the resignation and publicly thanked Lajčák for his work. He criticised the media coverage and political pressure surrounding the case, reiterating support for Lajčák’s diplomatic record.
Former Foreign Minister is not under investigation, and no charges have been brought against him. The release of the so-called “Epstein files” has led to renewed attention worldwide on individuals whose names appear in Epstein-related records, even where no illegal conduct has been established.
Source: TASR, Reuters, AP
