Former President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan has tendered his resignation from the post of Special Envoy to the President, citing the escalating public controversy surrounding renewed allegations linked to his past interactions with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement issued on 3 February 2026, Dr Waheed’s office said he had decided to step aside despite rejecting any wrongdoing, noting that the “toxicity” surrounding even benign associations with Epstein had made it untenable to effectively continue in his current mandate. His resignation was submitted to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, whom he has served as Special Envoy.

Addressing the allegations, the statement issued by Dr Waheed’s office began by expressing unequivocal support for survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse, stating that such crimes have no place in any society and that the dignity and rights of survivors must be upheld at all times. He stressed that neither he nor his family were ever aware of, nor witnessed, any criminal conduct by Epstein.

The statement clarified that any interactions he or his family had with Epstein were strictly professional, took place in the presence of others of official standing, and never involved social events, parties, or informal gatherings. It stated that Epstein was approached during a period when the Maldives was in urgent need of financial advice, having been recommended by respected international figures as a knowledgeable financial adviser in New York. According to the statement, Epstein was never paid and ultimately had no financial dealings with either Dr Waheed or the Maldivian Government.

The former President’s office acknowledged, however, that due diligence was not adequately carried out ahead of his first meeting with Epstein. The statement stressed that he was unaware at the time of Epstein’s 2008 criminal charge and conviction, and said that had he known, he would have ensured that the relationship did not continue beyond the initial meeting.

Dr Waheed’s office disclosed that he met Epstein on two occasions at his New York residence: once on 23 September 2012 at a dinner attended by other senior statesmen, and again briefly on 18 May 2014. The first meeting was officially scheduled and coordinated through the President’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Reflecting on his broader public service, the statement said that throughout Dr Waheed’s career he had met and worked with numerous prominent individuals in order to fulfil his official mandates. The statement expressed regret over any association with Epstein, emphasising that had he known the full extent of Epstein’s criminal history, he would not have maintained any contact “in any way, shape, or form”.

The statement concluded by acknowledging that stepping down was necessary in the interests of the office and the country, allowing the President’s agenda to proceed without distraction amid intense public scrutiny.