PRAGUE, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico's national security adviser has resigned after new files related to Jeffrey Epstein showed the pair had exchanged emails talking about
Slovakia's National Security Adviser Resigns Amid Epstein File Controversy
Resignation of National Security Adviser
PRAGUE, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico's national security adviser has resigned after new files related to Jeffrey Epstein showed the pair had exchanged emails talking about young women.
Context of the Resignation
National security adviser Miroslav Lajcak issued a statement denying any wrongdoing and condemning Epstein's crimes. He described the exchange as informal and light-hearted and without any real substance, but said he would offer his resignation so the situation would not be used to attack the prime minister.
Official Statements and Reactions
"Not because of having done anything criminal or unethical in my actions, but I don't want him (Fico) to bear the political costs for something that's unrelated to his decisions," he said.
Fico announced in a video message on Facebook on Saturday he had accepted Lajcak's resignation, calling the adviser an incredible source of experience in diplomacy and foreign policy.
The U.S. Justice Department on Friday published millions of new files related to Epstein, including a text exchange from October 2018, when Lajcak was Slovakia's foreign minister.
(Reporting by Michael Kahn, Editing by Alexander Smith)
