More embarrassing Epstein exchanges to come, says Mandelson

Lord Peter Mandelson, the UK ambassador to the United States, has confirmed that further embarrassing correspondence between himself and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein will be released. This comes after US lawmakers published a series of documents on Tuesday, which included a letter from Lord Mandelson in which he described Epstein as his "best pal."

Mandelson's Response and Political Reaction

Lord Mandelson stated that it was "very sad" to see the words published but that they were written more than 20 years ago. He has expressed deep regret and profound sympathy for Epstein's victims, likening his friendship with Epstein to an "albatross around my neck." He added that he was "profoundly distraught that a charismatic criminal liar took me in."

In an interview, he admitted, "I regret very much, very deeply, that I was carrying on this relationship with him for much longer than I should have done."

Following the revelations, the leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, questioned Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on his "poor judgement" in appointing Lord Mandelson. She asked whether the Prime Minister had been aware of the "intimate friendship" when he appointed him as ambassador last year. Badenoch has called for Mandelson's vetting papers and all of his communications with Epstein to be made public. She criticised the current government, stating, "With this government, more strikes, more scandal, and more chaos."

The Prime Minister has maintained his confidence in Lord Mandelson, stating that the "full process was followed" during his appointment and that the ambassador is playing a key role in the UK's relationship with the US. He also said that Lord Mandelson was "right to express his deep regret" for his ties to Epstein. Downing Street reportedly holds Mandelson in high regard for his ability to work with the Trump administration.

Details of the Correspondence and Epstein's History

Epstein was convicted in Florida in 2008 of soliciting sex from a minor and died in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. Lord Mandelson has stated that he does not believe he is named in the "Epstein files" - the term used for evidence uncovered during criminal investigations - but has "no doubt" that there was a lot of "traffic, mail, and exchanges" between them.

He admitted that the forthcoming revelations would be "embarrassing" because they were "going to surface" and "will come out." When asked why he continued his friendship with Epstein, he said he "fell for his lies" and "took at face value what he said" about his initial indictment. He has always maintained that he never witnessed any wrongdoing and that Epstein "never wished, nor did [Epstein] give women introductions in the way he did to others," perhaps because he is a gay man.

The messages were part of a "birthday book" compiled for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003, which reportedly also contained correspondence from other high-profile figures. Mandelson's contribution featured a series of short messages alongside photographs, including one of him and Epstein smiling on a patio, captioned: "But if he is in the country, he remains my best pal."

Lord Mandelson's Career

Lord Mandelson has been a significant figure in British politics for four decades. He was a key figure in the "New Labour" project that led to Tony Blair's landslide victory in the 1997 general election. He held various ministerial posts until 2010, gaining a reputation for twice bouncing back after being forced to resign from his ministerial roles.

The association between Mandelson and Epstein was first made public in a 2019 internal report by JP Morgan, which stated that Epstein maintained a "close friendship with Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and Lord Peter Mandelson, a senior member of the British government."