GEORGE MITCHELL, WHO was honoured for his work in the Irish peace process, has been removed from a scholarship programme that bears his name due his links to the Epstein scandal. 

The board of directors of the US-Ireland Alliance has unanimously agreed that its George J. Michell Scholarship program should no longer bear the former Senator’s name.

Mitchell, 92, had chaired the talks during the negotiations of the Good Friday Agreement.

The latest release of the Epstein files show that Mitchell and Epstein had a large number of emails between 2010 and 2013 arranging meetings. 

Trina Vargo, founder and president of the US-Ireland Alliance, said the group took the decision because of the links between Jeffrey Epstein and Mitchell.  

The Scholarship is a program that sends American students to Ireland and Northern Ireland for a year of graduate study.

In 2025, the Alliance marked its 25th consecutive class of Scholars. A statement released today said the decision was unrelated to the Scholarship program being currently as the Alliance seeks to raise an endowment for the program.

“We are extremely proud of the program and the Scholars, and this turn of events in no way diminishes their achievements or our commitment to keeping them connected to the island, the Alliance, and each other.

“This decision allows us to focus on our mission to strengthen the ties between the US and the island of Ireland. Given the current state of the relationship, that is more important than ever,” said Vargo.

Vargo noted that, in the short term, the Alliance will refer to the Scholars as the US-Ireland Alliance Scholars.

Mitchell served as the US Senate majority leader from 1989 to 1995. He was later appointed as special envoy to Northern Ireland by President Bill Clinton. Clinton has also made appearances in the Epstein files. 

The former senator has been praised repeatedly or his work on the Good Friday Agreement.

In court documents released in 2019, Mitchell was accused of having had sexual intercourse with high profile, and now deceased Epstein victim, Virginia Giuffre. She was also linked to the former Prince Andrew. 

Mitchell has denied any connection to Giuffre.