SNS Calls on Lajcak to Disclose Whether He Had Financial Benefits from Epstein

Bratislava, 20 December (TASR) - In connection with the publication of new information in the Jeffrey Epstein case, the junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) has called on Premier Robert Fico's (Smer-SD) advisor and former foreign affairs minister Miroslav Lajcak to disclose whether or not he had enjoyed financial benefits from Epstein, or whether he had received loans, money or other gifts from him, SNS spokesperson Zuzana Skopcova informed TASR on Saturday. "It is evident and has been proven that Epstein purposefully used businessmen and politicians to obtain information that secured an economic advantage to him, or he subsequently passed it on to the intelligence community. Epstein was not an ordinary philanthropist, but a person who systematically misused information he obtained in various ways," ​​reads SNS's statement. The party views it necessary for Lajcak to explain why he had invited Epstein to the Slovak embassy in Austria and at the same time clarify whether or not he had benefited from his contacts with this man. SNS therefore reiterated that Fico should dismiss Lajcak from his post as the premier's advisor. Female opposition MPs also called for Lajcak's dismissal from the premier's advisor post in early December. MP Beata Jurik (Progressive Slovakia/PS) noted that the premier has no reason to wait any longer. According to Jurik, it cannot be ruled out that Epstein had his victims in Slovakia as well. "His plane landed in Bratislava and Poprad (Presov region) in 2018. We will therefore ask the competent authorities whether they have information that our female citizens could also have been victims and whether they are being provided with the necessary assistance and support," she said. The premier at a press conference following the EU summit in Brussels on Friday (19 December) responded that Lajcak is an excellent diplomat and continues to enjoy his trust. "If someone morally fails, give me evidence that they did something wrong and we'll end the cooperation. But I will not 'execute' people just because it is revealed that there was some kind of cooperation, or that someone saw someone somewhere," said Fico. The documents related to the late US financier, convicted of sexual crimes were published in November. They included email communications allegedly exchanged between then Slovak foreign minister Lajcak and Epstein. Lajcak told TASR at that time that he engaged only in social communication with Epstein in the past as part of his diplomatic duties. The premier in late November said that he found nothing that would force him to dismiss Miroslav Lajcak. New photos from Epstein's estate were released last week, with on of them showing the financier with Lajcak. ko