Epstein Files: Examining the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Connection

In November 2018, Archbishop Charles Chaput announced the establishment of the Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program. A victim compensation program would be administered by attorneys Kenneth Feinberg and Camille Biros. An Oversight Committee chaired by former U.S. Senator George Mitchell was announced. The committee would monitor the claims process and also review and evaluate the child protection/abuse safeguarding policies of the Archdiocese.

At the time I remember being surprised of the appointment of the former senator from Maine, George Mitchell.

Mitchell seemed like a pretty big “get” for the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese usually just finds some devout local Catholic with a law enforcement or legal background to do reviews and give a stamp of approval. Mitchell had much more of an established name and profile than the run- of -the mill Philly lackey who does their bidding. Who brought in Senator George Mitchell?

Senator Mitchell took the position of chairing the Oversight Committee in November 2018. He was gone from the position by May 2019, citing new work commitments.. There was no Archdiocesan announcement of his departure. A few months later, Mitchell was one of the first named political figures linked to the Epstein files. He was named by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre who claimed “My body was put on the banquet menu…for a powerful senator, George Mitchell and another prominent Nobel prize winning scientist.”

The quote given to the Philadelphia Inquirer by the master of disaster Archdiocese spokesperson, Ken Gavin, was ….typical. While any other corporation would have a chill down their spine by a link to the Epstein files, Ken Gavin instead chose to look on the bright side claiming that church officials remained grateful for Mitchell’s guidance. Gavin’s quote “the Senator’s efforts always focused on how to help heal the victims. Senator Mitchell and the other two distinguished members of the oversight committee have done remarkable work”

In the end it would not have mattered who chaired the Oversight Committee. Their final report evaluating the child protection policies in the Archdiocese did not contain any action items for improvement. They wrote that their position was to listen and learn about the concerns . When they raised the concerns to the Archdiocese they were satisfied with the answers they received and the descriptions provided to them about ongoing efforts to promote the interests of child protections and to manage complaints about priests. Absolutely and utterly ridiculous given that other dioceses receive pages and pages of recommendations when a review of their child protection policies and programs is conducted by outside sources.

Back to George Mitchell. Who brought him into the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as chair of the Oversight Committee? Was it the IRRP administrators Kenneth Feinberg and Camille Biros who then went on to be the administrators of the Epstein victim compensation fund? Does someone in the hierarchy of the Archdiocese have ties to Mitchell? How did he end up involved with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s victim compensation program and child protection review?

In 2019, Mitchell denied the allegations. In 2025, his birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein was unsealed. Mitchell refers to their friendship as a “blessing.” He claims the birthday wishes were extended prior to knowing of Epstein’s crimes. Recently released files in January 2026 show that Senator George Mitchell continued his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein was convicted of procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute in 2008. Mitchell had claimed to have no communication with Epstein after the conviction. The unsealed documents show otherwise.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia continues to endanger children and laity