World Economic Forum CEO resigns over Epstein ties:Alois Zwinggi to take over as interim chief

World Economic Forum (WEF) President and CEO Børge Brende has resigned from his position. His decision comes just weeks after the Geneva-based institution began investigating his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Brende had led the WEF since 2017. The Switzerland-based organisation confirmed his resignation and handed interim responsibility to Alois Zwinggi. Investigation Began After US Justice Department Report According to a report by Reuters, documents from the United States Department of Justice showed that Brende had three business dinners with Epstein. They also communicated through email and text messages. After these details emerged, the Geneva-based body launched an independent investigation into Brende’s past contacts. Internal Review Found Nothing Else Wrong WEF Co-Chairmen André Hoffmann and Larry Fink issued a separate statement saying the external investigation has now been completed. It found nothing new or suspicious beyond Epstein-related connections that had already been disclosed. The Board of Trustees will now begin the process of searching for Brende’s successor. What is the World Economic Forum and Jeffrey Epstein Controversy? The World Economic Forum hosts an annual summit in Davos, attended by global political leaders, billionaires, and business figures. Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier convicted of sex crimes who died in jail in 2019. His connections with prominent personalities have raised global questions about the credibility of several influential individuals. Many Big Names in Secret Documents Related to Jeffrey Epstein After confidential documents linked to Epstein surfaced, there has been worldwide controversy. The US Justice Department released nearly 3 million pages of records on January 30. Since then, more than 15 senior officials across 10 countries have resigned, and investigations are ongoing against over 80 powerful individuals. The files reportedly include names of politicians, ambassadors, billionaires, and members of royal families. Emails, flight logs, and contact records mention around 700 to 1,000 influential people, with allegations in some cases involving abuse of minor girls. High-profile figures such as Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton appear in the documents in different contexts. From Bill Gates to the former Israeli PM, all express regret After several prominent names became public, many of them and their families had to apologise or express regret openly. Who was Jeffrey Epstein? Jeffrey Epstein was a millionaire financier from New York City. He had connections with many powerful politicians and celebrities. He was accused of sexually abusing a minor girl in 2005. In 2008, he was convicted of soliciting sex from a minor and was sentenced to 13 months in prison. In 2019, Epstein was arrested again on sex trafficking charges, but he died by suicide in jail before the trial could begin. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted in 2021 for helping him commit the crimes. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.