Maine System Scrubs Senator’s Name Over Epstein Ties

The University of Maine system voted this week to remove the name of George Mitchell, a former U.S. senator and Democratic majority leader, from a center and scholarships in light of his reported ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The decision, made Monday by the system’s Board of Trustees, was first reported by News Center Maine. According to News Center, Mitchell’s name appeared more than 300 times in the documents released by the Justice Department as part of its Epstein investigation. After his tenure in the Senate, Mitchell played a leading role in negotiating a peace agreement in Northern Ireland and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“This process has been extremely painful and difficult and challenging for all who admire Senator Mitchell’s incredible, extraordinary achievements in public leadership,” said University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy, who led the task force responsible for deciding how to address concerns about Mitchell’s affiliation with the system.

The task force noted that Mitchell has not been charged with any crimes and the removal of his name does not represent a judgment of guilt. However, its report noted that “continued use of Senator Mitchell’s name would compromise the public trust and reflect adversely upon the university and its reputation.”

The system will rename the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions and the George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship, which funds studies in Ireland, according to board documents. They will be changed to the University of Maine Center for Sustainability Solutions and the University of Maine Peace Scholarship, respectively, though the university’s websites had not been updated as of Wednesday.

It will likely be several months before all references to Mitchell are removed, according to News Center.