The US-Ireland Alliance has announced that the George J. Mitchell Scholarship Programme will no longer carry the former senator’s name due to his links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision comes after documents related to Epstein’s activities were released by the US Department of Justice.
Scholarship Set Up to Honor Peace Efforts
The scholarship, designed to send American postgraduate students to study at Irish universities, was originally named after George Mitchell in recognition of his pivotal role in Northern Ireland’s peace process.
As chair of the negotiations that led to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, Mitchell helped bring decades of violence to an end, earning widespread acclaim for his diplomatic work.
Alliance Board Acts Unanimously
The US-Ireland Alliance’s board of directors voted unanimously to remove Mitchell’s name from the program.
Trina Vargo, the founder and president of the Alliance, said the decision was not taken lightly but was necessary in light of “new information that has come to light as part of the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.”
Focus Remains on Scholars and Mission
Vargo emphasized that the decision does not affect the achievements of the scholarship recipients.
“We are extremely proud of the programme and the scholars, and this turn of events in no way diminishes their accomplishments or our commitment to keeping them connected to the island, the alliance, and each other,” she said.
The Alliance added that dropping Mitchell’s name will allow the organization to concentrate on its core mission: strengthening the ties between the United States and Ireland, which Vargo described as “more important than ever” given current global circumstances.
Mitchell Responds to Epstein Connection
George Mitchell has previously addressed his association with Jeffrey Epstein, stating that he regrets having met and known him but maintains that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s illegal activities.
The former senator has not faced legal allegations but his name’s removal from the scholarship program marks a significant step in distancing the program from his personal history.
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