Mandelson makes personal apology for continuing Epstein friendship
Lord Mandelson Issues "Unequivocal" Apology Over Epstein Association
Following intense scrutiny, Lord Mandelson has expressed concern for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, admitting his decision to maintain a friendship with the late paedophile after his initial conviction was a mistake.
In a BBC interview on Sunday, the former Cabinet minister faced significant criticism for offering what was perceived as a limited apology for the systemic failures that let victims down. Addressing the backlash in a statement on Monday, Lord Mandelson said:
"I do not want the crimes of which I was ignorant—but not indifferent—to be visited upon me because of the lies he told to me and so many others. I was wrong to believe him following his first arrest and to continue my contact with him thereafter. I apologise unequivocally to the women and girls who were harmed."
Renewed Scrutiny
The government recently removed Lord Mandelson from his most recent advisory role following the emergence of new details regarding his association with the American financier. Downing Street indicated that further information regarding the nature of their contact had surfaced.
It has been reported that Lord Mandelson remained in contact with Epstein after the 2008 Florida plea bargain. In a series of emails, Mandelson reportedly advised Epstein on how to rehabilitate his reputation. In that 2008 case, Epstein pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting girls as young as 14 for prostitution and served 18 months in jail. He died in a New York cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
"Separate" from the Crimes
In his initial interview with the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Lord Mandelson did not initially apologise for the friendship, insisting he would only have done so had he been "in any way complicit or culpable." He argued that he had been "kept separate" from Epstein’s predatory behaviour because he is gay and denied ever seeing underage girls at Epstein's properties.
However, in a later post on X (formerly Twitter) and a statement to Newsnight, he clarified his position:
"After his death, I learned the truth about him like everyone else. But his victims knew what he was doing; their voices were not heard, and I am sorry I was one of those who trusted him over them."
He added that he had "relied on promises of innocence which later proved to be horribly inaccurate" and expressed that he still feels "completely awful" about the association.
Political Fallout
The Sunday interview drew sharp rebukes from across the political spectrum. One Cabinet minister described Lord Mandelson as now being persona non grata, while another characterized the televised appearance as "horrendous and toe-curling."
Labour peer Baroness Kennedy KC welcomed the eventual apology but noted it was overdue. Speaking to Newsnight, she said:
"I am glad he has come out tonight and is finally saying this. His initial preoccupation seemed to be ensuring people knew he was deceived, rather than focusing on the victims. Someone of Peter Mandelson’s standing should have known better than to go on television and fail to apologise to the women who suffered so terribly."
