Amid the growing George Mitchell/Epstein files scandal, two more Maine organizations are reviewing plans to rename projects currently bearing the former senator’s name.
√ University of Maine is forming a committee to explore renaming The Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions and the UMaine Mitchell Peace Scholarship.
√ Maine transportation officials are considering naming a new Islesboro ferry for someone other than Mitchell, who was their original choice.
The possible rebrandings are the latest in a string of attempts by both Maine and international institutions to distance themselves from Mitchell’s connections to the so-called Epstein files.
Though Mitchell has repeatedly denied he had any contact with an underaged girl allegedly prostituted by his friend Jeffrey Epstein, the former Maine political icon continues to bear the burden of smear simply by association.
The Waterville native who blossomed into a powerful political figure both here and abroad after an unremarkable childhood was an unlikely tale of dominance over adversity to say the least.
The son of an orphaned Irish immigrant father who worked as a janitor and Lebanese immigrant mother textile worker received degrees from two prestigious schools – a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College in Brunswick and a law degree from Georgetown University.
Bates College in Lewiston awarded Mitchell an honorary doctorate degree.
Mitchell, now 92, became U.S. attorney, a federal judge and U.S. senator, followed by his elevation to Senate leader and excelling in international diplomacy.
He led the negotiations for the so-called Good Friday Agreement that brought unlikely peace to Northern Ireland.
Mitchell served as peace envoy for President Clinton, who even reportedly offered him a Supreme Court judgeship.
He is one of the few people in modern times to have served in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government.
Mitchell became vice chair of the 9/11 Commission and served on the boards of several multinational corporations.
It seemed he could do no wrong. His star continued to rise.
But once the Epstein files were released by the U.S. Justice Department, disclosing multiple references to his friendly association with Mitchell, the fawning came to a halt, drip by drip.
√ Queen’s University in Ireland, where he had once served as chancellor, removed Mitchell’s marquee and bust from its campus.
√ The U.S.-Ireland Alliance stripped his name from its prominence.
√ The Mitchell Institute in Maine accepted his offer to resign as chairman and the organization has said it was considering renaming the scholarship program.
√ A portrait of Mitchell that hung prominently in the Maine Statehouse was taken down.
√ A Waterville elementary school that had been named 20 years ago in Mitchell’s honor went back to its original designation.
Despite Mitchell’s insistence he had no role in Epstein’s criminality,
his name being linked to a convicted sexual trafficker was enough to dismantle his heretofore-untouchable legacy.
If he didn’t do what he is rumored to have done, then one would think Mitchell with all his full-fledged faculties would come out and pound his fist on the table.
He would also subject himself to a full-blown news conference and answer every question until there were none left.
If he is too frail or in ill-health to be able to do either of those things then one would think that someone in his behalf would do it for him.
But he appears to be in full mental acuity and able to think and speak for himself, evidence his volunteering almost immediately to resign from his own Maine institute once the files became public and the gossip began.
So far neither he nor anyone speaking for him has been brave or smart enough to deny the rumors in an open public setting, which is incomprehensible in light of Mitchell’s being such a proud – and political – person.
He must be personally humiliated beyond measure, so the lack of an explanation defies every available logic.
In the alternative, if Mitchell were to admit he had sex with an underaged girl as she claimed he did, whether it were his idea or Epstein’s, he could subject himself to serious criminal charges.
He must consider himself to be in a no-win situation so he remains cloistered, a virtual prisoner of his own doing either way.
The mere fact that officials of The Mitchell Institute recently went out of their way to emphasize his resignation was voluntary speaks volumes.
They insisted that Mitchell quit on his own almost immediately after the publication of the Epstein files, i.e., it was his choice.
If he hadn’t offered to step down they likely would have eventually asked him to, but he did it so fast it never was seriously entertained, they said.
Lest there be any confusion, they want to make sure Mitchell gets credit for having the common sense on his own to understand that the gig is up.
The supposed need for clarification of how and why he quit confirms Mitchell is fully aware of what’s going on, no matter what the public may otherwise think.
The more important question at this point may be why Mitchell’s own institute appears to be dragging its feet completely severing ties with him while virtually every other organization bearing his name has already done so.
It could be because without his name The Mitchell Institute may have to fold its tent altogether since its very existence is based solely on the Mitchell name and its former glory.
In the alternative maybe one way “The Mitchell Institute” could remain in business is to rename itself The Virginia Giuffre Institute – in memory of George Mitchell’s alleged underaged sex partner.
Giuffre testified in a 2016 deposition that Epstein sent her to have sex while she was underage with several politicians, including Mitchell.
He has denied having any contact with her, claiming it is a case of mistaken identity.
Giuffre died, allegedly by suicide, a year ago at the age of 41.
Her father has questioned the manner of death, saying at the time “somebody got to her.”
Disclaimer: Bowdoin College grad Steve Robinson, a Dexter native now chief editor of The Maine Wire, was among hundreds of high-school seniors who benefited from The Mitchell Institute’s scholarships.
