The Epstein files are no longer just a political headache. They’re becoming a corporate career killer, CNN reports.

After the Justice Department released millions of pages tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the fallout inside Corporate America has shifted from a slow simmer to a rolling boil. Executives aren’t being accused of crimes — but in today’s boardrooms, proximity alone can be fatal.

“This is not over. This is just the tip of the iceberg,” warned Bill George, the former Medtronic CEO and longtime board member at Goldman Sachs, ExxonMobil and Target. “We’re going to see more prominent people get implicated.”

The ‘Third Rail’

Governance experts say Epstein has become the ultimate corporate “third rail.”

“It’s a very explosive, toxic issue. Companies are doing damage control — but the damage is very real,” said Daniel Kinderman, a professor of business and politics at the University of Delaware.

Nell Minow, chair of ValueEdge Advisors, put it even more bluntly:

“I don’t think there’s a public company board in America that isn’t doing searches through Epstein documents to make sure no one connected to the company is mentioned.”

Minow outlined what she calls “third-rail issues” that trigger immediate exits.

“The first category is if you lied about it — we’ll call that the Lutnick rule — where you specifically said things that turned out to be lies,” she said.

Minow predicts more shoes will drop: “There will be more revelations and more departures – voluntary or involuntary.”

Cast Out

Hyatt executive chairman Tom Pritzker stepped down this week, citing the “terrible judgment” he exercised in maintaining ties with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. He said “good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt,” adding that he “deeply regret[s]” the association.

Goldman Sachs’ top lawyer, Kathy Ruemmler, resigned after scrutiny over personal messages and gifts tied to Epstein. “My responsibility is to put Goldman Sachs’ interests first,” she said.

Brad Karp, then-chairman of powerhouse law firm Paul Weiss, quit after what he called a “distraction” that was “not in the best interests of the firm.”

Entertainment mogul Casey Wasserman put his agency up for sale, admitting he had become a “distraction” to the company’s “efforts.”

Larry Summers, the former Treasury secretary and Harvard president, announced he was “deeply ashamed” and paused public engagements after emails revealed years of contact with Epstein.

The pattern is clear: Even without criminal allegations, boards are concluding the reputational risk is simply too great.

Boards Panicking

“Markets respond faster than the political world,” Minow said. “They can act faster than waiting for the next election cycle.”

The concern isn’t just optics. It’s money.

“Americans are divided on almost everything politically, but there is agreement that association with Epstein is bad. It’s bad for customers, bad for recruiting,” Kinderman said.

In a hyperconnected era, a resurfaced email or flight log can torpedo an IPO advisory role, derail a merger, or spook investors overnight.

George argues boards have little choice but to act.

“The Goldman board and CEO did the right thing. They had no real choice,” he said.

Global Backlash

The reckoning isn’t confined to Wall Street. A top executive at Dubai-based DP World was replaced after revelations about his ties.

In the UK, a senior aide to Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned, taking “full responsibility” for recommending an ambassador with Epstein links.

And still — the document trove is far from exhausted.

“The Epstein circle is wider than many thought,” Kinderman said. “People have every right to be angry at how deep the rot is at the top of society.”

George delivered perhaps the starkest warning of all:

“Unfortunately, all of this is making the case that elites have protection. We should not treat the elites differently from other people. CEOs must meet the highest standard of behavior.”

If that standard holds, the Epstein “third rail” may be far from finished electrocuting high-profile careers.