Maine Trustees Remove Mitchell Name From Center and Scholarship

By Beth Ann Timmings Boston, MA · ORONO —

Published Updated 3 min read

The University of Maine System Board voted 9-5 on Monday to remove George Mitchell's name from a center and scholarship. The change follows a task force review of his associations with Jeffrey Epstein found in federal documents.

ORONO — The University of Maine System Board of Trustees voted on Monday to remove former U.S. Senator George Mitchell’s name from a center and a scholarship. The board voted 9-5 with one abstention to approve the name removal following a review of his associations with Jeffrey Epstein.

The Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions will be renamed the University of Maine Center for Sustainability Solutions. The George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship will be renamed the University of Maine Peace Scholarship. The scholarship funds post-graduate studies at universities in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy addressed the decision in a statement regarding the outcome of the review process, saying that the process had been extremely painful and difficult and challenging for all who admire Senator Mitchell’s incredible, extraordinary achievements in public leadership.

The task force report provided the rationale for the recommendation that led to the board's vote. "While no findings of wrongdoing by Senator Mitchell have been made, in light of the material that has recently been made public by the U.S. Department of Justice, and mindful of the experiences of victims and survivors, the task force concludes that continued use of Senator Mitchell’s name would compromise the public trust and reflect adversely upon the university and its reputation." The decision was based on a recommendation from a task force established in February by UMS Chancellor Dannel Malloy and Ferrini-Mundy.

Nearly three-quarters of respondents to a university public comment solicitation requested the removal of Mitchell's name. Updating websites, materials, and signage for the name changes will take several months.

Why It Matters

The removal of Mitchell's name from these University of Maine programs follows similar actions by other institutions earlier in 2026. Queen's University in Belfast removed a bust of George Mitchell and his name from its research center in February 2026. The U.S.-Ireland Alliance removed George Mitchell's name from its scholarship program in February 2026. George Mitchell resigned from his role as honorary chair of the Mitchell Institute in early February 2026.

George Mitchell's official portrait was removed from the Maine State House on February 27, 2026. The Waterville School Board voted on March 9, 2026, to remove George Mitchell's name from Brookside Elementary School. These actions occurred after George Mitchell’s name appeared more than 300 times in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of its Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

Timeline

In 2006, George Mitchell was appointed by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to investigate steroid use in baseball. The Mitchell Report, released in December 2007, identified 89 current and former players as confirmed or suspected users of performance-enhancing drugs. In December 2018, Jeffrey Epstein described George Mitchell as "a very close friend when senate majority leader" in a text exchange with Steve Bannon. In 2019, George Mitchell was mentioned as an associate of Jeffrey Epstein in testimony from one of Epstein's victims.

George Mitchell’s name appeared more than 300 times in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of its Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

What's New

In 2010, Jeffrey Epstein attempted to arrange a meeting with George Mitchell through an email to Mitchell’s assistant, according to documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice. The U.S. Department of Justice released over 3 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein's criminal investigations, which included more than 300 references to George Mitchell. The official record states that the University of Maine System Board of Trustees voted 9-5 to accept the recommendation to remove George J. Mitchell's name from UMaine programs after lengthy discussion, with the decision being made on September 28, 2026, as reported by Maine Public.

George Mitchell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton in 1999 for his role in brokering the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. The Mitchell Peace Scholarship, established by George Mitchell, has awarded over 4,000 scholarships to students from Maine and Ireland since its inception in 1995. George Mitchell was appointed by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig in 2006 to lead an investigation into steroid use in baseball, resulting in the 2007 Mitchell Report that named 89 players as confirmed or suspected users of performance-enhancing drugs.

fact_check Facts

The University of Maine System Board of Trustees voted on Monday to remove former U.S. Senator George Mitchell’s name from a center and a scholarship.
The Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions will be renamed the University of Maine Center for Sustainability Solutions.
The George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship will be renamed the University of Maine Peace Scholarship.
The George J. Mitchell Peace Scholarship funds post-graduate studies at universities in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The decision to remove Mitchell's name was based on a recommendation from a task force established in February by UMS Chancellor Dannel Malloy and University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy.
George Mitchell’s name appeared more than 300 times in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of its Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
The task force report stated: "While no findings of wrongdoing by Senator Mitchell have been made, in light of the material that has recently been made public by the U.S. Department of Justice, and mindful of the experiences of victims and survivors, the task force concludes that continued use of Senator Mitchell’s name would compromise the public trust and reflect adversely upon the university and its reputation."
Joan Ferrini-Mundy, University of Maine President
University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy said, "This process has been extremely painful and difficult and challenging for all who admire Senator Mitchell’s incredible, extraordinary achievements in public leadership."
In 2019, George Mitchell was mentioned as an associate of Jeffrey Epstein in testimony from one of Epstein's victims.
In December 2018, Jeffrey Epstein described George Mitchell as "a very close friend when senate majority leader" in a text exchange with Steve Bannon.

menu_bookBackground & Sources

Context and data our newsroom added to the originating report, with the primary source for each item shown below it.

George Mitchell served in the U.S. Senate from May 1980 to January 1995, including six years as Senate Majority Leader.
George Mitchell served as U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland under President Bill Clinton from 1995 to 2001 and mediated the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
George Mitchell resigned from his role as honorary chair of the Mitchell Institute in early February 2026.
The U.S.-Ireland Alliance removed George Mitchell's name from its scholarship program in February 2026.
Queen's University in Belfast removed a bust of George Mitchell and his name from its research center in February 2026.
George Mitchell's official portrait was removed from the Maine State House on February 27, 2026.
The Waterville School Board voted on March 9, 2026, to remove George Mitchell's name from Brookside Elementary School.
George Mitchell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In 2006, George Mitchell was appointed by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to investigate steroid use in baseball.
The Mitchell Report, released in December 2007, identified 89 current and former players as confirmed or suspected users of performance-enhancing drugs.
The U.S. Department of Justice released over 3 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein's criminal investigations, which included more than 300 references to George Mitchell.
In 2010, Jeffrey Epstein attempted to arrange a meeting with George Mitchell through an email to Mitchell’s assistant, according to documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
George Mitchell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton in 1999 for his role in brokering the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.
Source: umaine.edu
The Mitchell Peace Scholarship, established by George Mitchell, has awarded over 4,000 scholarships to students from Maine and Ireland since its inception in 1995.
Source: bioguideretro.congress.gov
The official record states that the University of Maine System Board of Trustees voted 9-5 to accept the recommendation to remove George J. Mitchell's name from UMaine programs after lengthy discussion, with the decision being made on September 28, 2026, as reported by Maine Public.
George Mitchell was appointed by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig in 2006 to lead an investigation into steroid use in baseball, resulting in the 2007 Mitchell Report that named 89 players as confirmed or suspected users of performance-enhancing drugs.
Source: umaine.edu

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