View source for George J. Mitchell

{{Short description|American politician, diplomat, and judge (born 1933)}}
{{redirect|Senator Mitchell}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = George Mitchell
| image               = George John Mitchell.jpg
| caption             = Mitchell in 1980
| office              = [[Ambassadors of the United States|United States Special Envoy]] for [[2010–11 Israeli–Palestinian peace talks|Middle East Peace]]
| president           = [[Barack Obama]]
| term_start          = January 22, 2009
| term_end            = May 13, 2011
| predecessor         = [[Anthony Zinni]] (2003)
| successor           = [[David Hale (diplomat)|David Hale]]
| office1             = Vice Chair of the [[9/11 Commission]]
| president1          = [[George W. Bush]]
| term_start1         = November 27, 2002
| term_end1           = December 11, 2002<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barrett |first1=Ted |last2=Karl |first2=Jonathan |author-link2=Jonathan Karl |date=December 11, 2002 |title=Mitchell quits 9/11 probe |url=http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/12/11/mitchell.resigns/ |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=March 2, 2018 |archive-date=September 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909001923/http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/12/11/mitchell.resigns/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| predecessor1        = Position established
| successor1          = [[Lee Hamilton]]
| office2             = 8th [[List of Chancellors of the Queen's University, Belfast|Chancellor of the Queen's University, Belfast]]
| term_start2         = May 5, 1999
| term_end2           = March 29, 2009
| predecessor2        = [[David Orr (businessman)|David Orr]]
| successor2          = [[Kamalesh Sharma]]
| office3             = [[United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland]]
| president3          = [[Bill Clinton]]
| term_start3         = January 3, 1995
| term_end3           = January 20, 2001
| predecessor3        = Position established
| successor3          = [[Richard N. Haass]]
| jr/sr7              = United States Senator
| state7              = [[Maine]]
| term_start7         = May 17, 1980
| term_end7           = January 3, 1995
| predecessor7        = [[Edmund Muskie]]
| successor7          = [[Olympia Snowe]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Senate positions|titlestyle=border: 1px dashed lightgrey;}}
{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office4             = [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Majority Leader]]
| deputy4             = [[Alan Cranston]]<br>[[Wendell Ford]]
| term_start4         = January 3, 1989
| term_end4           = January 3, 1995
| predecessor4        = [[Robert Byrd]]
| successor4          = [[Bob Dole]]
| office5             = [[Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus]]
| term_start5         = January 3, 1989
| term_end5           = January 3, 1995
| predecessor5        = Robert Byrd
| successor5          = [[Tom Daschle]]
| office6             = [[President pro tempore of the United States Senate#Deputy president pro tempore|Deputy President pro tempore of the United States Senate]]
| president6          = [[John C. Stennis]]
| term_start6         = January 3, 1987
| term_end6           = January 3, 1989
| predecessor6        = [[Hubert Humphrey]] (1978)
| successor6          = ''Vacant''
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| office8             = Judge of the [[United States District Court for the District of Maine]]
| appointer8          = [[Jimmy Carter]]
| term_start8         = October 5, 1979
| term_end8           = May 16, 1980
| predecessor8        = Seat established
| successor8          = [[Conrad K. Cyr]]
| office9             = [[United States Attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the District of Maine|District of Maine]]
| president9          = Jimmy Carter
| term_start9         = 1977
| term_end9           = 1979
| predecessor9        = [[S. Peter Mills Jr.]]
| successor9          = James Brannigan
| birth_name          = George John Mitchell Jr.
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1933|8|20}}
| birth_place         = [[Waterville, Maine]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{ubl |{{marriage|Sally Heath|1961|1987|end=div}} |{{marriage|Heather MacLachlan|1994}}}}
| children            = 3
| education           = [[Bowdoin College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Georgetown University]] ([[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
| allegiance          = United States
| branch              = [[United States Army]]
| branch_label        = Branch
| serviceyears        = 1954–1956
| serviceyears_label  = Service&nbsp;years
| rank                = [[First lieutenant|First Lieutenant]]
| unit                = [[Counterintelligence Corps]]
| module              = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell Urges the George H.W. Bush Administration to Take Stronger Leadership on Climate Change.ogg |title=Mitchell's voice |type=speech |description=Mitchell urging stronger actions by the [[Presidency of George H. W. Bush|George H. W. Bush administration]] against [[climate change]].<br>Recorded February 18, 1992}}
}}
'''George John Mitchell Jr.'''<!-- Per [[MOS:POSTNOM]], post-nominal letters are only included when "issued by a country or widely recognizable organization with which the subject has been closely associated." --> (born August 20, 1933)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=m000811 |title=Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress − Retro Member details |access-date=2020-10-20 |archive-date=2020-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017091724/https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=M000811 |url-status=live}}</ref> is an American politician, diplomat, and lawyer. A leading member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he served as a [[United States senator]] from [[Maine]] from 1980 to 1995, and as [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Majority Leader]] from 1989 to 1995. After retiring from the Senate, Mitchell played a leading role in negotiations for peace in [[Northern Ireland peace process|Northern Ireland]] and the [[Peace process in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict|Middle East]]. He was appointed [[United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland]] (1995–2001) by President [[Bill Clinton|Clinton]] and as United States Special Envoy for Middle East Peace (2009–2011) by President [[Barack Obama]].

Mitchell was a primary architect of the 1996 [[Mitchell Principles]] and the 1998 [[Good Friday Agreement]] in Northern Ireland, and was the main investigator in two "Mitchell Reports": one on the [[Mitchell Report (Arab–Israeli conflict)|Arab–Israeli conflict]] (2001); and one on the [[Mitchell Report|use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball]] (2007).

Mitchell served as chairman of [[the Walt Disney Company]] from 2004 until 2007, and later as [[Chair (official)|chairman]] of the international [[law firm]] [[DLA Piper]]. He was the [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] of [[Queen's University Belfast|Queen's University]] in [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]], from 1999 to 2009. Mitchell also has served as a co-chair of the Housing Commission at the [[Bipartisan Policy Center]].<ref>[http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/projects/housing Bipartisan Policy Center's Housing Commission] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031115517/http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/projects/housing |date=October 31, 2011}}</ref> He is one of the few people in modern times [[List of people who have served in all three branches of the United States federal government|to have served in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the federal government]].

To date, he is the last registered Democrat to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate.{{efn|Independent [[Angus King]] caucuses with the [[Senate Democratic Caucus]].}}

==Early life==

===Origins===
Mitchell was born in [[Waterville, Maine]]. His father, George John Mitchell Sr. (born Joseph Kilroy), was born in Ireland and adopted by a [[Lebanese Americans|Lebanese American]] when he was orphaned.<ref name="Middle East Envoy George Mitchell">{{cite magazine |last=Altman |first=Alex |title=Middle East Envoy George Mitchell |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1873532,00.html |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=January 22, 2009 |access-date=February 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630040433/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1873532,00.html |archive-date=June 30, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Mitchell's father was a janitor at [[Colby College]] in Waterville, where Mitchell was raised. Mitchell's mother, Mary (''née'' Saad), was a textile worker who immigrated to the United States in 1920 from [[Bkassine]], [[Lebanon]], at the age of eighteen.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |title=Senator George Mitchell |url=https://www.themainemag.com/people/2314-senator-george-mitchell/ |website=The Maine Mag |date=2013-08-12 |access-date=2020-12-02 |language=en-US |archive-date=2018-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908202450/https://www.themainemag.com/people/2314-senator-george-mitchell/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Jackson |last=Diehl |title=An Old Mission for George Mitchell |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/22/AR2009012203303_pf.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=May 3, 2010 |archive-date=November 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107142814/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/22/AR2009012203303_pf.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Mitchell was raised a [[Maronite Church|Maronite Catholic]] and in his childhood served as an altar boy at St. Joseph's Maronite Church in Maine.<ref>AFP, [https://archive.today/20111106220518/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hI-M8gm8ye6v7zKUgtge74ycpbwA Obama's new Mideast envoy begins regional tour in Egypt], January 27, 2009.</ref><ref name="findarticles">{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n24_v217/ai_15434788/ |work=The Sporting News |title=The Maine man |first=Steve |last=Marantz |date=June 13, 1994 |via=FindArticles |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115111916/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n24_v217/ai_15434788/ |archive-date=2011-11-15}}</ref> Throughout junior high school and high school, he worked as a janitor.<ref name="George Mitchell Interview">{{cite web |title=George Mitchell Interview |publisher=Academy of Achievement |url=http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/mit0int-1 |date=June 7, 2002 |access-date=September 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124024734/http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/mit0int-1 |archive-date=January 24, 2010}}</ref> In the family of five children, all three of his brothers were athletes; though a talented student as a child, he found himself overshadowed by his brothers' athletic achievements.<ref name="George Mitchell Interview"/>

===Education and military service===
After graduating from high school at the age of sixteen,<ref name="Middle East Envoy George Mitchell"/> Mitchell attended [[Bowdoin College]] in [[Brunswick, Maine]], where he worked several jobs and played on the basketball team.<ref name="Middle East Envoy George Mitchell"/> He graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in 1954, intending to attend graduate school and then teach, but instead served in the [[United States Army]] from 1954 to 1956, rising to [[first lieutenant]]. In 1961, Mitchell received his [[Bachelor of Laws]] from [[Georgetown University Law Center]] by attending its part-time program at night. He has since received an honorary [[Doctor of Laws]] degree from [[Bates College]].

==Political career==

===Early legal career===
After having performed well academically at Georgetown, Mitchell served as a trial attorney for the [[United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division|Antitrust Division]] of the [[United States Department of Justice]] in Washington from 1960 to 1962, and then as executive assistant to Senator [[Edmund S. Muskie]] from 1962 to 1965, where he first gained interest in the political world.<ref name="George Mitchell Interview"/> Afterwards, Mitchell practiced law with Jensen & Baird<ref>{{cite web |url-status=unfit |url=https://www.jensenbaird.com/History.php |title=A History |website=Jensen Baird Gardner & Henry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927231140/http://www.jensenbaird.com/History.php |archive-date=2018-09-27}}</ref> in [[Portland, Maine]], from 1965 to 1977 and was assistant county attorney for [[Cumberland County, Maine]], in 1971.

===From judge to senator===
In 1974, Mitchell won the Democratic nomination for [[governor of Maine]], defeating [[Joseph E. Brennan]]. He lost in the [[1974 Maine gubernatorial election|general election]] to independent candidate [[James B. Longley]], but was appointed [[United States Attorney]] for Maine by President [[Jimmy Carter]] in 1977. Mitchell served in that capacity from 1977 to 1979.

Mitchell was nominated by President Carter on July 31, 1979, to the [[United States District Court for the District of Maine]], to a new seat authorized by 92 Stat. 1629. He was confirmed by the Senate on October 4, 1979, and received his commission on October 5, 1979. His service terminated on May 16, 1980, due to his resignation.

Mitchell was appointed to the [[United States Senate]] in May 1980 by the governor of Maine, [[Joseph E. Brennan|Joseph Brennan]], when [[Edmund Muskie]] resigned to become [[United States Secretary of State|US Secretary of State]].

After serving out the remainder of Muskie's term, Mitchell was elected to his first full term [[1982 United States Senate election in Maine|in 1982]] by 99,937 votes against Congressman [[David Emery]], and rose quickly in the Senate Democratic leadership. He was elected as the chair of the [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]] in 1984, helping the Democrats regain control of the Senate in 1986 with a net eight new seats and a 55–45 majority in the Senate. He served as [[Deputy President pro tempore]] in the [[100th United States Congress]], because of the illness of president pro tempore [[John C. Stennis]], and remains the only senator other than [[Hubert Humphrey]] to have held that post.

The position of deputy president pro tempore was created specifically to be held by a current senator who is a former president or former vice president of the United States. Humphrey is a former vice president of the United States and Mitchell is the only person to have been deputy president pro tempore who has never held one or both of the two highest offices of the US government.

[[1988 United States Senate election in Maine|In 1988]] Mitchell was reelected by 348,417 votes, the largest margin of victory in a Senate election that year and the largest majority ever for a senator from Maine.

[[File:George Mitchell in Tel Aviv July 26, 2009.jpg|225px|thumb|right|Mitchell in 2009]]
Mitchell voted in favor of the [[Passage of Martin Luther King Jr. Day|bill]] establishing [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day]] as a [[Federal holidays in the United States|federal holiday]] and the [[Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987]] (as well as to override [[Ronald Reagan|President Reagan]]'s veto).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/98-1983/s293|title=To pass H.R. 3706. (motion passed) see note(s) 19. |website=GovTrack.us |date=Oct 19, 1983 |access-date=2020-05-17|archive-date=2020-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520132928/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/98-1983/s293|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/s432|title=To Pass S 557, Civil Rights Restoration Act, a Bill to Restore the Broad Coverage and Clarify Four Civil Rights Laws by Providing That if One Part of an Institution is Federally Funded, Then the Entire Institution Must Not Discriminate. |website=GovTrack.us |date=Jan 28, 1988 |access-date=2020-05-17|archive-date=2020-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728203812/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/s432|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/s487|title=To Adopt, Over the President's Veto of S 557, Civil Rights Restoration Act, a Bill to Restore Broad Coverage of Four Civil Rights Laws by Declaring That if One Part of an Institution Receives Federal Funds, Then the Entire Institution Must Not Discriminate. Two-thirds of the Senate, Having Voted in the Affirmative, Overrode the Presidential Veto. |date=Mar 22, 1988 |website=GovTrack.us |access-date=2020-05-17|archive-date=2020-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810145251/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/100-1988/s487|url-status=live}}</ref> Mitchell voted against the nominations of [[Robert Bork Supreme Court nomination|Robert Bork]] and [[Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination|Clarence Thomas]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]], stating explicitly that he believed Thomas' nomination constituted a [[racial quota]].<ref>'Mitchell: Bush Used Quota in Court Pick'; ''The Day'' ([[New London, Connecticut]]), July 9, 1991, p. A3</ref>

===Senate Majority Leader===
Mitchell served as [[United States Senate Majority Leader|Senate Majority Leader]] from 1989 to 1995. While in this role, Mitchell led the movement to reauthorize the [[Clean Air Act (United States)|Clean Air Act]] in 1990 and pass the [[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990]]. Additionally, under his leadership, the Senate approved the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] and the formation of the [[World Trade Organization]].

In 1994, Mitchell turned down an offer of appointment by President [[Bill Clinton]] to the [[United States Supreme Court]],<ref name="Middle East Envoy George Mitchell"/> to replace the retiring [[Harry A. Blackmun]] so that he could continue helping with efforts in the Senate to pass significant health-care legislation. The seat ultimately went to [[Stephen Breyer]]. Nevertheless, Congress was not able to pass any significant health-care legislation at the time, and Mitchell did not run for reelection in [[United States Senate election in Maine, 1994|1994]].

===Political leanings===
For 1994, Mitchell's last year in the Senate, the [[American Conservative Union]] gave him a rating of 0.00 on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being most conservative.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conservative.org/ratings/ratingsarchive/1994/sen_iomi.html |title=ACU 1994 Senate Ratings |access-date=2011-06-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928062655/http://www.conservative.org/ratings/ratingsarchive/1994/sen_iomi.html |archive-date=2011-09-28}}</ref> For the same year, the [[Americans for Democratic Action]] gave him a score of 90 on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being most liberal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Americans for Democratic Action |url=http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/1994.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204050913/http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/1994.pdf |archive-date=December 4, 2010 |website=adaction.org}}</ref>

==After the Senate==
Mitchell has served as a director of companies including [[Walt Disney Company]]; [[FedEx]]; [[Xerox]]; [[Unilever]]; [[Staples, Inc.]]; [[Starwood Hotels and Resorts|Starwood]]; and the [[Boston Red Sox]] baseball team. After leaving the Senate, Mitchell joined the Washington, D.C., law firm [[DLA Piper#Piper Rudnick and American predecessor firms|Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand]]; he later became the firm's chairman. He was criticized for [[lobbying]] on behalf of the firm's [[Big Tobacco]] clients.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Weisberg|first=Jacob|date=August 10, 1997|title=Liberal Tobacco Whores|journal=Slate Magazine|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2281/|access-date=January 22, 2009|archive-date=December 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210163618/http://www.slate.com/id/2281/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/17/opinion/liberties-nicotine-stained-halo.html |title=Liberties; Nicotine-Stained Halo |last=Dowd |first=Maureen |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 17, 1998 |access-date=October 27, 2020 |archive-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031153449/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/17/opinion/liberties-nicotine-stained-halo.html |url-status=live}}</ref> He is also senior counsel to [[Preti, Flaherty, Beliveau, Pachios]], Orlick & Haley in Portland, Maine. He is partner and chairman of the Global Board of [[DLA Piper]], US LLP, a global law firm. Mitchell served as an Advisor of [[ZeniMax Media]] Inc.<ref>{{cite web|title=ZeniMax Media-Outside Advisors|url=http://www.zenimax.com/bab.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070720031136/http://www.zenimax.com/bab.htm|archive-date=July 20, 2007|access-date=April 30, 2019}}</ref> He has also served on the advisory board of [[The Iris Network]], a nonprofit blindness rehabilitation agency in Portland.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theiris.org/about-us/advisory-board/ |title=Advisory Board |access-date=2020-05-22 |archive-date=2019-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225151144/https://www.theiris.org/about-us/advisory-board |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2007, Mitchell joined fellow former Senate Majority Leaders [[Howard Baker]], [[Bob Dole]], and [[Tom Daschle]] to found the [[Bipartisan Policy Center]], a non-profit think tank that works to develop policies suitable for bipartisan support.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/about|title=About BPC – Bipartisan Policy Center|work=bipartisanpolicy.org|access-date=2011-05-26|archive-date=2011-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518171503/http://bipartisanpolicy.org/about|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Democratic politics===
[[File:GeorgeJMitchellPortrait.jpg|thumb|right|Senate portrait of Majority Leader George Mitchell]]
Mitchell was reportedly among those considered by [[Al Gore]] as a [[running mate]] for his [[Al Gore presidential campaign, 2000|2000 presidential run]], but Gore selected [[Joe Lieberman]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/13/gore.veep/index.html |title=Gore considering naming VP immediately after GOP convention |last=King |first=John |publisher=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081104174658/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/07/13/gore.veep/index.html |archive-date=November 4, 2008 |date=July 14, 2000 |access-date=January 22, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Had Mitchell been nominated and had the Democratic ticket won that year, he would have been the first [[Lebanese American]] to serve as the [[Vice President of the United States|vice president of the United States]], and only the second vice president from Maine, after [[Hannibal Hamlin]]. He also was mentioned in both 2000 and in 2004 as a potential [[United States Secretary of State|secretary of state]] for a Democratic administration, due to his role as Senate Leader and the Good Friday agreements.

===Education===
Since 2002, Mitchell has been a senior fellow and senior research scholar at [[Columbia University]]'s [[Center for International Conflict Resolution]], where he works to help end or avert conflicts between nations. He was the chancellor of the [[Queen's University of Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]], until his resignation in April 2009, and namesake of the [[George J. Mitchell Scholarship]], which sponsors graduate study for twelve Americans each year in the [[Republic of Ireland]] and Northern Ireland.

He is the founder of the [[Mitchell Institute]], in [[Portland, Maine]], whose mission is to increase the likelihood that young people from every community in Maine will aspire to, pursue and achieve a college education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mitchellinstitute.org/|title=Senator George J. Mitchell Scholarship Research Institute – The Mitchell Institute|work=The Mitchell Institute|access-date=2009-09-21|archive-date=2010-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308130107/http://www.mitchellinstitute.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2007, he became a visiting [[Professor]] in [[Leeds Metropolitan University]]'s School of Applied Global Ethics, and the university is developing a new Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution bearing his name.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/international/754DAC6EAAE94420B396FA6018BB1930.htm |title=Senator George Mitchell Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution |year=2004 |publisher=Leeds Metropolitan University |access-date=January 22, 2009 |archive-date=January 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101182608/http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/international/754DAC6EAAE94420B396FA6018BB1930.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Mitchell Report (Arab–Israeli conflict)===
{{main|Mitchell Report (Arab–Israeli conflict)}}

Mitchell led an American fact-finding commission initiated under President [[Bill Clinton]] in 2000 intended to find solutions for solving the situation between [[Israel]] and the [[Palestinians]]. Mitchell's [[Mitchell Report (Arab–Israeli conflict)|report]], published in 2001, stressed the need for Israel to halt the expansion of its settlements in the Palestinian territories and for the Palestinians to prevent violence. Interest in the report was renewed when Mitchell was named Special Envoy for Middle East Peace in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Scott |title=Obama searches for Middle East peace |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-searches-for-middle-east-peace/2012/07/14/gJQAQQiKlW_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 14, 2012 |access-date=2020-07-10 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=2020-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701000752/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-searches-for-middle-east-peace/2012/07/14/gJQAQQiKlW_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

===United Nations===
Mitchell served as co-chairman (with [[Newt Gingrich]]) of the [[United States and the United Nations#U.S. Congress looks into reform of U.N.|Congressionally mandated Task Force on the United Nations]], which released its findings and recommendations on June 15, 2005, after having been formed that January.

===World Justice Project===
George J. Mitchell serves as an Honorary Co-chair for the [[World Justice Project]]. The World Justice Project works to lead a global, multidisciplinary effort to strengthen the [[Rule of Law]] for the development of communities of opportunity and equity.

===Northern Ireland peace process===
[[File:The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice.jpg|thumb|The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security & Justice, established in 2016 at [[Queen's University Belfast]]]]
Since 1995, Mitchell has been active in the [[Northern Ireland peace process]], having served as the [[United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland]] under President [[Bill Clinton]]. He first led an international body to review options for [[Decommissioning in Northern Ireland|paramilitary arms decommissioning]], which produced the [[Mitchell Principles]] that regulated access to subsequent all-party peace talks. Mitchell then co-chaired the all-party talks, leading to the [[Belfast Agreement]], signed on Good Friday 1998 (known since as the "Good Friday Agreement"). Mitchell's mediation between the parties was crucial to the success of the talks.<ref>Samantha Power, "George Mitchell" ''TIME Magazine''. 5/12/2008, pp 76+ (cover story).</ref> He was succeeded as special envoy by [[Richard Haass]].<ref>Cathy Gormley-Heenan, ''Political leadership and the Northern Ireland peace process: Role, capacity and effect'' (Springer, 2006).</ref>

For his leadership in the Northern Ireland peace negotiations, Mitchell was awarded the [[Liberty Medal]] (on July 4, 1998) and the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] (on March 17, 1999). In accepting the Liberty Medal, he stated: "I believe there's no such thing as a conflict that can't be ended. They're created and sustained by human beings. They can be ended by human beings. No matter how ancient the conflict, no matter how hateful, no matter how hurtful, peace can prevail."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.constitutioncenter.org/libertymedal/recipient_1998.html|title=1998 Recipient George Mitchell − Liberty Medal|work=National Constitution Center|access-date=2009-09-22|archive-date=2009-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091023120421/http://constitutioncenter.org/libertymedal/recipient_1998.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2025, a documentary titled "The Negotiator" which follows Mitchell's work to broker the Good Friday Agreement was released at the Maine International Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-14 |title=Documentary on former Sen. George Mitchell featured at Maine film festival |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2025/07/14/former-maine-senator-featured-in-documentary-screening-at-film-festival/ |access-date=2025-07-15 |website=Press Herald}}</ref>

===Chairman of Disney===
On March 4, 2004, Disney's [[board of directors]], on which Mitchell had served since 1995, named him [[Michael Eisner]]'s replacement as [[Board of directors|Chairman of the Board]] after 43% of the company's shares were voted against Eisner's reelection (35% was the minimum for disposal). Mitchell himself received a 24% negative vote,<ref name=holson>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/10/business/market-place-eisner-vote-forces-disney-to-catch-up.html?scp=2&sq=Mitchell%20Eisner&st=cse&pagewanted=1|title=Former P. & G. Chief Named Disney Chairman|last=Holson|first=Laura M.|date=March 10, 2004|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 3, 2009|archive-date=April 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425083640/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/10/business/market-place-eisner-vote-forces-disney-to-catch-up.html?scp=2&sq=Mitchell%20Eisner&st=cse&pagewanted=1|url-status=live}}</ref> a fact that led dissident Disney shareholders [[Roy E. Disney]] and [[Stanley Gold]] to criticize the appointment of Mitchell, whom they saw as Eisner's puppet.

Having already served on the boards of companies including [[Xerox]], [[Starwood Hotels and Resorts|Starwood]], [[FedEx]], and [[Staples, Inc.]], Mitchell assumed his new role at a particularly tumultuous time in the company's history, needing to face such issues as [[Comcast]]'s hostile takeover attempts and a possible split with [[Pixar]].<ref name=holson/> Mitchell played an important role in the selection of [[Robert A. Iger]] as Eisner's successor as CEO in 2005.<ref name=holson/> On June 28, 2006, Disney announced that its board had elected one of its members, [[John Pepper Jr.]], former CEO of [[Procter & Gamble]], to replace Mitchell as chairman effective January 1, 2007.<ref>{{cite news|title=Market Place; Eisner Vote Forces Disney To Catch Up|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/29/business/media/29disney.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=Mitchell%20Pepper&st=cse|last=Holson|first=Laura M.|date=June 29, 2006|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 3, 2009|archive-date=October 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031173925/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/29/business/media/29disney.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=Mitchell%20Pepper&st=cse|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Baseball's steroids investigation===
{{main|Mitchell Report (baseball)}}

In 2006, Mitchell was tapped by [[Commissioner of Baseball|MLB Commissioner]] [[Bud Selig]] to lead an investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs by [[Major League Baseball]] players. The investigation derived largely from charges against [[Barry Bonds]], and revelations in the [[Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative]] (BALCO) trials of [[Victor Conte]] and [[Greg Anderson (trainer)|Greg Anderson]]. Selig has said that revelations brought forth in the 2005 book ''[[Game of Shadows]]'' were, by way of calling attention to the issue, in part responsible for the league's decision to commission an independent investigation. To this day Mitchell is known to have held meetings with only two active players, [[Jason Giambi]], who was ordered to meet Mitchell by Commissioner Selig in light of his public admissions on the issue, and one additional player whose name was initially not made public but was later revealed to be [[Frank Thomas]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/15/sports/baseball/15talk.html?scp=1&sq=George+Mitchell+THomas&st=nyt|title=One Player Who Spoke With Mitchell Wonders Why So Few Others Did|last=Curry|first=Jack|date=December 15, 2007|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 3, 2009|archive-date=April 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425083653/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/15/sports/baseball/15talk.html?scp=1&sq=George+Mitchell+THomas&st=nyt|url-status=live}}</ref> Mitchell did however hold extensive meetings with several known steroid dealers, club attendants, personal trainers, and others who had ties to all players named in the report. Even though the union that protects the players had pressured all but Giambi and Thomas into maintaining the culture of silence that had helped the drug problem remain a secret, there was plenty of other evidence against those named in his report.

Mitchell released a 409-page [[Mitchell Report (baseball)|report]] of his findings on December 13, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-mitchellreport&prov=ap&type=lgns |title=Year after Mitchell Report, MLB tries to move on |website=Yahoo.com |access-date=January 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081215134245/http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-mitchellreport&prov=ap&type=lgns |archive-date=December 15, 2008}}</ref> The report includes the names of 89 former and current players for whom it claims evidence of use of steroids or other prohibited substances exists. This list includes names of [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player]]s and [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Stars]], such as [[Roger Clemens]], [[Andy Pettitte]], [[Miguel Tejada]], [[Denny Neagle]], [[Paul Lo Duca]], [[David Justice]], [[Barry Bonds]], [[Éric Gagné]], [[Todd Hundley]], [[Randy Velarde]], and [[Benito Santiago]].

Mitchell was criticized for having a [[conflict of interest]] with the report as he was a director of the [[Boston Red Sox]], especially because no prime Red Sox players were named in the report,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/print?id=3153509&type=story|title=Mitchell report: Baseball slow to react to players' steroid use|date=December 14, 2007|access-date=December 18, 2007|website=ESPN.com|archive-date=December 16, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216200001/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3153509&type=story|url-status=live}}</ref> despite the fact that Red Sox stars [[David Ortiz]] and [[Manny Ramirez]] were later accused of using performance-enhancing substances during the 2003 season, as reported by ''[[The New York Times]]'' on July 30, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael S.|last=Schmidt|title=Ortiz and Ramirez Said to Be on '03 Doping List|date=2009-07-30|work=The New York Times}}</ref> Likewise, the report was commissioned by Selig, and no members of the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], whom Selig once owned, appeared in the report. The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' reported that Mitchell acknowledged that his "tight relationship with Major League Baseball left him open to criticism".<ref name=gregjohnson>{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Greg |title=Mitchell cites unbiased history |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=December 14, 2007}}</ref> Mitchell responded to the concerns by stating that readers who examined the report closely "will not find any evidence of bias, of special treatment of the Red Sox".<ref name=gregjohnson/>

===Special Envoy for Middle East Peace===
[[File:Special Envoy Mitchell Meets With Israeli Prime Minister (4063444149).jpg|thumb|Mitchell, as Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, meets with Israeli prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]]]
[[File:Clinton Netanyahu Abbas Mitchell 2 Sep 2010.jpg|thumb|Mitchell, together with [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], [[Mahmoud Abbas]], and [[Hillary Clinton]] at the start of [[Direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians in 2010|direct talks]] on September 2, 2010.]]

On January 22, 2009, President [[Barack Obama]] and [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]] appointed Mitchell as the administration's [[Diplomatic rank|Special Envoy]] to the Arab-Israeli peace process, formally known as the "Special Envoy for Middle East Peace".<ref name="timesMiddleEast">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/us/politics/22diplo.html?_r=1&hp|title=Seasoned Negotiator to Serve as a Mideast Envoy|last=Landler|first=Mark|date=January 21, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 22, 2009|archive-date=April 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425083652/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/us/politics/22diplo.html?_r=1&hp|url-status=live}}</ref> The appointment was seen as an indication of the new [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]]'s increased focus on the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]. The choice of Mitchell allowed Obama to demonstrate the seriousness and sincerity of his intentions regarding the peace process, without forcing him to immediately embark on a specific initiative before conditions were yet ripe. An analyst at the [[Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars]] said Mitchell's appointment "says to the world, 'I care about this issue; be patient with me.'"<ref name="timesMiddleEast"/> [[Abraham Foxman]], the National Director of the [[Anti-Defamation League]], has stated that, "Sen. Mitchell is fair. He's been meticulously even-handed".<ref>{{cite news |last=Besser |first=James D. |title=Mitchell As Envoy Could Split Center |url=http://www.thejewishweek.com/features/mitchell_envoy_could_split_center |work=The Jewish Week |date=January 21, 2009 |access-date=March 4, 2012 |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110112920/http://www.thejewishweek.com/features/mitchell_envoy_could_split_center |url-status=live}}</ref>

Within the first week of his appointment, Mitchell was dispatched to visit [[Israel]], the [[West Bank]], [[Egypt]], [[Jordan]], Turkey, and [[Saudi Arabia]] for [[Peace process in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict|peace discussions]] in light of the [[Gaza War (2008–09)|2008-09 Gaza War]] between Israel and the [[Gaza Strip]], in which both sides had recently entered into [[unilateral]] [[ceasefire]]s. Mitchell began his meetings in [[Cairo]] on January 27, and Obama said his visit was part of the president's campaign promise to listen to both sides of the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]] and negotiate a peace deal. However, in a continuation of a [[George W. Bush]] [[Presidency of George W. Bush|administration]] policy, Mitchell did not plan to talk to [[Hamas]], a group Israel and the United States consider a [[List of designated terrorist organizations|terrorist organization]], but instead focus on talks with the [[Palestinian National Authority]].<ref>Witte, Griff. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/27/AR2009012700260.html?hpid=topnews "Blast at Gaza Border Kills Israeli Soldier; Palestinian Farmer Killed by Gunfire."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827091647/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/27/AR2009012700260.html?hpid=topnews |date=2017-08-27}} ''[[The Washington Post]]'', January 28, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2008.</ref> Mitchell first met with new [[Israel]]i [[Prime Minister of Israel|Prime Minister]] [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] in February 2009<ref>{{cite news |date=February 26, 2009 |title=George Mitchell, Netanyahu Meet Concerning Peace Efforts |work=Huffington Post |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/26/george-mitchell-netanyahu_n_170115.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227064734/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/26/george-mitchell-netanyahu_n_170115.html |archive-date=February 27, 2009}}</ref> and has met with many notable figures of the Middle East since. In 2010, he led the US delegation to the [[Palestine Investment Conference]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-05/palestinian-development-investment-forum-yields-655-million.html |title=Palestinian Development Investment Forum Yields $655 Million |work=[[BusinessWeek]] |date=June 5, 2010 |access-date=June 13, 2010 |archive-date=June 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611000805/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-05/palestinian-development-investment-forum-yields-655-million.html |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov/remarks060310.html Remarks by Senator George J. Mitchell at Palestine Investment Conference.] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714005716/http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov/remarks060310.html |date=2010-07-14}} Consulate General of the United States in Jerusalem, June 3, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.</ref>

On May 13, 2011, Mitchell tendered his resignation from the post of Special Envoy to the Middle East.<ref>{{cite news |title=George Mitchell resigns as Middle East envoy |url=http://us.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/13/mitchell.mideast.envoy/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1 |publisher=CNN |date=May 13, 2011 |access-date=May 13, 2011 |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224201201/http://us.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/13/mitchell.mideast.envoy/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1 |url-status=live}}</ref> Obama praised Mitchell, stating, "His deep commitment to resolving conflict and advancing democracy has contributed immeasurably to the goal of two states [Israel and Palestine] living side by side in peace and security."<ref>{{cite news |last=Myers |first=Steven |title=Amid Impasse in Peace Negotiations, America's Chief Middle East Envoy Resigns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/world/middleeast/14mitchell.html?_r=0 |work=The New York Times |date=May 13, 2011 |access-date=October 9, 2014 |archive-date=October 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015172058/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/world/middleeast/14mitchell.html?_r=0 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===San Bruno pipeline explosion===
{{update|section|date=February 2018}}
{{main|2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion}}

In 2012, Mitchell was asked to lead talks towards determining fines involved in the [[2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Former Sen. George Mitchell tapped to settle PG&E fine for San Bruno explosion|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21779037/former-sen-george-mitchell-tapped-settle-pg-e|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110112917/http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21779037/former-sen-george-mitchell-tapped-settle-pg-e|archive-date=November 10, 2012|work=Mercury News}}</ref>

===Consultant and advisor===
In June 2014, Mitchell was hired as a senior advisor at the public relations and advisory company [[Teneo]],<ref name="Facts">{{cite news |author=Staff Writer |url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/19/us/george-mitchell-fast-facts/index.html |title=George Mitchell Fast Facts |work=[[CNN]] |date=2021-08-15 |access-date=2022-07-09}}</ref> a firm closely connected to the Clintons.<ref name="Bade">{{cite news |last=Bade |first=Rachael |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/04/teneo-final-221807 |title=How a Clinton insider used his ties to build a consulting giant |work=[[Politico]] |date=2016-04-16 |access-date=2022-07-09}}</ref> Like Mitchell, who in 1995<ref name="Facts" /> had been appointed special envoy to Northern Ireland by President Bill Clinton,<ref name="Bade" /> Teneo founder and CEO [[Declan Kelly (businessman)|Declan Kelly]] had been appointed economic envoy to Northern Ireland in September 2009 by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.<ref name="Bade" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Lorenzetti |first=Laura |url=https://fortune.com/2014/06/09/global-consulting-firm-teneo-hires-two-political-powerhouses/ |title=Global consulting firm Teneo hires two political powerhouses |work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |date=2014-06-09 |access-date=2022-07-09}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Mitchell was married for 26 years until he and his wife Sally divorced in 1987. They are the parents of a daughter, Andrea. In December 1994, at the age of 61, he married Heather MacLachlan, 35, a sports management consultant.<ref name="findarticles"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/george-j-mitchell|title=Answers – The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions|work=Answers.com|access-date=2009-02-19|archive-date=2009-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123161109/http://www.answers.com/topic/george-j-mitchell|url-status=live}}</ref> They have a son, Andrew, and daughter, Claire, named in honor of Claire Bowes (''née'' Gallagher) who had so inspired him when she was blinded in the [[Omagh bombing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ulsterherald.com/2016/04/15/mitchell-condemns-failure-of-justice-for-omagh/|title=Mitchell condemns 'failure of justice' for Omagh|last=Kelly|first=Peter|date=April 15, 2016|website=Ulster Herald|access-date=August 12, 2019|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806080345/https://ulsterherald.com/2016/04/15/mitchell-condemns-failure-of-justice-for-omagh/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Mitchell was diagnosed with a "small, low grade, and localized" [[prostate cancer]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|last=Quinn|first=T. J.|date=August 10, 2007|title=Mitchell diagnosed with cancer. Mitchell is of Lebanese descent, his mother migrated to the United States in 1920.|work=New York Daily News|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2007/08/10/2007-08-10_mitchell_diagnosed_with_cancer.html|url-status=dead|access-date=January 22, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905060646/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mitchell-diagnosed-cancer-article-1.236143|archive-date=September 5, 2012}}</ref>

In August 2020, he was diagnosed with [[acute leukemia]], but by April 2023, he described himself as "pain-free and in remission."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2020/08/21/former-maine-sen-george-mitchell-diagnosed-with-leukemia|title=Former Maine Sen. George Mitchell diagnosed with leukemia|publisher=Boston.com|access-date=August 24, 2020|archive-date=August 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828151710/https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2020/08/21/former-maine-sen-george-mitchell-diagnosed-with-leukemia|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/i-honestly-dont-know-if-this-is-the-last-time-americas-great-peacemaker-returns-to-belfast-good-friday-agreement-northern-ireland-nobel-peace-prize-ira-terror/ |title='I honestly don't know if this is the last time' — America's great peacemaker returns to Belfast |date=April 21, 2023}}</ref>

Despite his history of affiliation with [[Bill Clinton]], it has been acknowledged that Mitchell knew Clinton before the November 1992 U.S. Presidential election.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-15-tm-20287-story.html|title=What Went Wrong? : George Mitchell, the former Senate Majority Leader, ponders how the Democrats fell so hard while the Republicans prospered. But he has hope for the future--and Clinton’s reelection.|first=Tom|last=Rosenthal|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=October 21, 2025|accessdate=October 21, 2025}}</ref>

==Association with Jeffrey Epstein and alleged sex ring involvement==
[[Virginia Giuffre]], a woman who had long claimed that disgraced financier and convicted sex offender [[Jeffrey Epstein]] forced her to have sex with powerful men, named Mitchell in documents unsealed on August 9, 2019 (a day before [[Death of Jeffrey Epstein|Epstein's death]]), by a [[U.S. District Court|Federal court]] in the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of New York|Southern District of New York]]. The papers included affidavits and depositions of key witnesses in a 2015 lawsuit that Giuffre filed against Epstein and his associate [[Ghislaine Maxwell]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Julie K.|last2=Blaskey|first2=Sarah|date=August 10, 2019|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/ct-nw-epstein-court-documents-unsealed-20190810-cju46mmxrfdypj3sscjyqbozb4-story.html|title=Huge cache of newly unsealed records detail how Jeffrey Epstein and his madam allegedly lured girls into sexual servitude|work=Sun-Sentinel|agency=Associated Press|quote=some prominent, wealthy men . . . are spattered throughout. . . . They include: . . . [[Marvin Minsky]] . . . [[Jean-Luc Brunel]] . . . [[Bill Richardson]] . . . former Sen. George Mitchell . . . [[Thomas Pritzker|Tom Pritzker]] . . . [[Glenn Dubin]] . . . [[Alan Dershowitz]] . . . and [[Prince Andrew]].}}</ref> Giuffre accused the two individuals of [[sex-trafficking]] her to high-profile individuals, including Mitchell, in the early 2000s while she was [[underage]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last=Sherman |first=Gabriel |date=August 9, 2019 |title=Powerful Men, Disturbing New Details in Unsealed Epstein Documents |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/08/new-details-in-unsealed-jeffrey-epstein-documents |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810032557/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/08/new-details-in-unsealed-jeffrey-epstein-documents |archive-date=August 10, 2019 |access-date=February 25, 2020 |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]}}</ref><ref>[[Virginia Giuffre]] (May 3, 2016), [https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/7010864/Virginia-Giuffre-Maxwell-Deposition.pdf "CONFIDENTIAL VIDEOTAPED DEPOSITION OF VIRGINIA GIUFFRE"], VIRGINIA GIUFFRE vs. GHISLAINE MAXWELL (Mitchell's name appears on p. 194 of the original document, which appears on p. 51 of the PDF.)</ref> Mitchell denied ever having met or spoken with Giuffre, and stated that he became aware of Epstein's criminal prosecution only through the media.<ref name=":0" />

On November 30, 2021, Epstein's former pilot [[Larry Visoski]] alleged Mitchell was one of the people he recalled flying on one of Epstein's private planes, but claimed to have never seen sexual activity nor indication that such activity had taken place.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Lauren del Valle and Eric Levenson|title=Jeffrey Epstein's former pilot testifies Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Prince Andrew flew aboard Epstein's private plane|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/30/us/ghislaine-maxwell-pilot/index.html|access-date=2021-12-30|website=CNN|date=November 30, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-01|title=Full list of people named on Jeffrey Epstein's 'Lolita Express'|url=https://www.newsweek.com/who-flew-jeffrey-epstein-lolita-express-plane-full-list-people-named-1654827|access-date=2021-12-30|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref>

In her posthumous October 2025 memoir [[ Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice]], Giuffre reiterated her accusation about being directed to have sex with Mitchell.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/virginia-giuffre-unnamed-politicians-posthumous-memoir-11831481|title=Virginia Giuffre Offers Clues About Jeffrey Epstein's Political Clients in Posthumous Memoir: All the Unnamed Politicians She Describes|first1=Meredith|last1=Kile|first2=KC|last2=Baker|publisher=People|date=October 21, 2025|accessdate=October 21, 2025}}</ref> However, Mitchell was not among the people who were listed in Epstein's personal contact book and flight logs, with the full list of names in both the flight logs and contact book being published by ''[[The Independent]]'' on November 12, 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/epstein-files-names-full-list-trump-clinton-b2863859.html|title=Epstein files: Full list of names in disgraced financier’s contact book|publisher=The Independent|date=12 November 2025|accessdate=12 November 2025}}</ref>

In 2025, a redacted copy of [[Jeffrey Epstein's birthday book]] from 2003 was released, which contained a note from Mitchell.<ref name="t316">{{cite web | last=Kidd | first=Faye | title=George Mitchell: Crucial peace process figure called Epstein friendship a 'blessing' | website=BBC News | date=2025-09-10 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdr6yjzkvx6o }}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
In 1994, Mitchell received the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official, an award distributed annually by [[Jefferson Awards for Public Service|Jefferson Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |title=National – Jefferson Awards |url=http://www.jeffersonawards.org/pastwinners/national |url-status=dead |work=Jefferson Awards |access-date=August 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124043935/http://jeffersonawards.org/pastwinners/national |archive-date=November 24, 2010}}</ref>

In recognition for his role in the Northern Ireland peace process, Mitchell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Liberty Medal, and was nominated for the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] in 1998.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hoge |first=Warren |title=2 Ulster Peacemakers Win the Nobel Prize |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/17/world/2-ulster-peacemakers-win-the-nobel-prize.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 17, 1998 |access-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417143842/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/17/world/2-ulster-peacemakers-win-the-nobel-prize.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, in 1999 Mitchell was invested as an [[List of honorary British knights and dames|Honorary Knight Grand Cross]] of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (GBE).

In 2002, he received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement|website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#public-service|access-date=2021-01-04|archive-date=2016-12-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215023909/https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#public-service|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=2003 Summit Highlights Photo |url=https://achievement.org/summit/2003/ |quote=Members of the American Academy of Achievement, philanthropist and entrepreneur Leonard A. Lauder, and the former Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate, the Honorable George J. Mitchell, at the Banquet of the Golden Plate. |access-date=2021-01-04 |archive-date=2020-09-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235230/https://achievement.org/summit/2003/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2003, he received the [[Four Freedoms Award#Freedom Medal|Freedom Medal]].<ref>[[Four Freedoms Award#Freedom Medal]]</ref>

On January 28, 2014, a portrait of Mitchell was unveiled for display at the [[Maine State Capitol]] alongside those of other notable Mainers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.centralmaine.com/2014/01/28/mitchell_to_maine_legislature__it_s_possible_to_work_together_/ |title=Mitchell to Maine Legislature: It's possible to work together |date=January 28, 2014 |publisher=Kennebec Journal |access-date=January 29, 2014 |archive-date=October 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012172835/http://www.centralmaine.com/2014/01/28/mitchell_to_maine_legislature__it_s_possible_to_work_together_/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 10, 2018, Mitchell was awarded [[Freedom of the City of Belfast]], alongside former president Bill Clinton in a ceremony at the Ulster Hall.<ref>{{cite web |title=Clintion and Mitchell given freedom of Belfast on 20th anniversary of peace deal |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/clinton-and-mitchell-given-freedom-of-belfast-on-20th-anniversary-of-peace-deal-1.3457472 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |date=April 10, 2018 |access-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410103217/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/clinton-and-mitchell-given-freedom-of-belfast-on-20th-anniversary-of-peace-deal-1.3457472 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Books==
*(with Senator William Cohen, co-author) ''Men of Zeal: A Candid Inside Story of the Iran-Contra Hearings'' (September 1988) {{ISBN|978-0670822522}}
*''World on Fire: Saving an Endangered Earth'' (January 1991) {{ISBN|978-0684192314}}
*''Not For America Alone: The Triumph of Democracy and The Fall of Communism'' (May 1997) {{ISBN|978-1568360836}}
*''Making Peace'' (April 1999 – 1st Edition, July 2000 – Updated) {{ISBN|978-0434007554}} {{ISBN|978-1501153914}}
*''The Negotiator: A Memoir'' (May 2015) {{ISBN|978-1451691399}}
*(with Alon Sachar, co-author) ''A Path to Peace: A Brief History of Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations and a Way Forward in the Middle East'' (November 2016) {{ISBN|978-1501153914}}

==See also==
* [[Bill Clinton Supreme Court candidates]]
* [[List of Arab and Middle-Eastern Americans in the United States Congress]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==Further reading==
* Bosse, Michael R. "George J. Mitchell: Maine's Environmental Senator." ''Maine Law Review'' 47 (1995): 179+. [https://digitalcommons.mainelaw.maine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1616&context=mlr online]
* Curran, Daniel, and James Sebenius. "The mediator as coalition builder: George Mitchell in Northern Ireland." ''International Negotiation'' 8.1 (2003): 111-147 [https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c891/03288e6ca529c9c29a4e5c2f5614f4139f5d.pdf online].
* Curran, Daniel, James K. Sebenius, and Michael Watkins. "Two Paths to Peace: Contrasting George Mitchell in Northern Ireland with Richard Holbrooke in Bosnia–Herzegovina." ''Negotiation Journal'' 20.4 (2004): 513-537 [http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.420.4675&rep=rep1&type=pdf online].
* Gormley-Heenan, Cathy. ''Political leadership and the Northern Ireland peace process: Role, capacity and effect'' (Springer, 2006).
* Gould, Alberta. ''George Mitchell: In Search of Peace''. [[Farmington, Maine]]: Heritage Pub., 1996
* Mackenzie, G. Calvin. "Senator George Mitchell and the Constitution." ''Maine Law Review'' 47 (1995): 163+ [https://digitalcommons.mainelaw.maine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1615&context=mlr online].
* Mitchell, George J. "Toward Peace in Northern Ireland." ''Fordham International Law Journal'' 22 (1998): 1136+. a primary source

===Fiction===
* McCann, Colum. ''Transatlantic''. Random House, New York, 2013. [http://colummccann.com/books/transatlantic/ Novel].

==External links==
{{wikiquote|George Mitchell}}
{{commons category}}
* [https://2009-2017.state.gov/s/middleeastpeace/index.htm Special Envoy for Middle East Peace] at the [[US Department of State]]
* {{Biographical Directory of Congress|M000811}}
* {{FJC Bio|1660|nid=1385216|name=George John Mitchell<!--(1933–)-->}}
*{{C-SPAN|1401}}
*{{Charlie Rose view|1319}}
*{{IMDb name|1586239}}
*{{Guardian topic}}
*{{NYTtopic|people/m/george_j_mitchell}}
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13395910 Profile: George Mitchell] at ''[[BBC News]]'', May 13, 2011
* [http://digilib.bates.edu/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?e=d-01000-00---0muskieor--00-1--0-10-0---0---0prompt-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about---01-3-1-00-0011-1-0utfZz-8-00&a=d&c=muskieor&cl=CL1.248&d=HASH0122fb46ad7930c276fbed5e Interview with George J. Mitchell] by Don Nicoll, May 2, 2002 – summary sheet, transcript and audio link at [[Bates College]] Digital Library
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080502145708/http://www.rl.tv/OurShows/EncorewithJohnPalmer/Talk2GeorgeMitchell/tabid/687/Default.aspx Interview with George Mitchell]
<sup>1</sup> Previously appointed to the office by then-Governor [[Joseph E. Brennan|Joe Brennan]] in 1980 following the resignation of [[Edmund Muskie|Ed Muskie]] to become [[United States Secretary of State|secretary of state]]
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||[[1982 United States Senate elections|1982]]
|style="background:#B3D9FF;" |George Mitchell (inc.)<sup>1</sup>
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|style="background:#FFB3B3;" |[[David F. Emery]]
|style="background:#FFB3B3;" |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|style="background:#FFB3B3;" |39%
|-
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|style="background:#B3D9FF;" |George Mitchell (inc.)
|style="background:#B3D9FF;" |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|style="background:#B3D9FF;" |81%
|style="background:#FFB3B3;" |Jasper Wyman
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, George J.}}
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