Documents made public by the U.S. Congress show that Peter Mandelson, Britain’s ambassador to Washington and a former Labour Cabinet minister, described Jeffrey Epstein as “my best pal” in a handwritten tribute contained in a 2003 "birthday book" compiled for the financier.
The material, released as part of wider congressional disclosures about Epstein and his circle, includes a ten-page entry by Mandelson that contains praise for Epstein and several photographs. The images, among them one showing Mandelson in a bathrobe with Epstein, and another in which a young woman in a white vest and dark underwear appears near Mandelson, have prompted renewed questions about the nature of the relationship and the ambassador’s judgment.
The book was compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in the United States of recruiting and grooming young women for Epstein and is serving a 20-year sentence. The material also contains other contributions and items tied to Epstein’s social network, including a page with a letter framed in a female silhouette attributed to former U.S. President Donald Trump; Trump’s camp has denied the authenticity of that particular page.
Jeffrey Epstein was arrested on federal sex-trafficking charges in July 2019 and died in federal custody that August. He had previously pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and served time in a local jail. Maxwell’s conviction followed a U.S. Justice Department investigation into Epstein’s activities; questions about the extent of Epstein’s relationships with influential figures have persisted since his death.
Mandelson, a former Labour cabinet minister who has served twice as a European commissioner and who was appointed ambassador to the United States in 2022, has previously acknowledged that he regrets having met Epstein. When first asked about the revelations earlier this year, he declined to answer whether he had stayed in Epstein’s apartment in 2009 while Epstein was in custody. Mandelson told reporters he wished he "had never met him in the first place." The ambassador’s office did not immediately provide further comment in response to the newly released material.
The disclosures follow the release of other documents in recent months that have revealed social and financial ties between Epstein and numerous public figures. The birthday book, created for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003, was among items turned over to U.S. congressional investigators and has been made public in recent document dumps related to the broader inquiry into Epstein’s network.
The photographs and handwritten notes in the book depict an intimate social circle and have attracted attention in Britain because of Mandelson’s long public profile. Mandelson was a senior figure in Tony Blair’s government and twice resigned from ministerial office amid controversies in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He remains a polarizing figure in British politics and diplomacy, known for his close relationships with wealthy and influential individuals.
Commentators and political opponents in the United Kingdom have said the material raises questions about how closely Mandelson associated with Epstein and whether he owes the public further explanation about the nature and duration of the friendship. Supporters note that many public figures met Epstein in social or charitable contexts before his criminal conduct was fully exposed and that meeting someone does not imply knowledge of or involvement in criminal activity.
Legal experts say the documents do not by themselves establish criminal conduct by Mandelson. The images and handwritten note are part of a larger public record being examined by journalists, lawmakers and others, who say the material broadens understanding of Epstein’s social reach. Maxwell’s conviction in 2021 and Epstein’s criminal history remain the anchors of official accountability in the U.S. cases connected to Epstein’s conduct.
The release adds to scrutiny of how public figures across politics, business and entertainment interacted with Epstein. It also underscores the continuing political sensitivities surrounding associations with him, particularly for those who now hold official positions. British officials have previously said they would review any new information of significance.
The newly public pages have not produced evidence that Mandelson participated in illegal activity, and the ambassador has not been accused of any crime related to Epstein. Nonetheless, the photographs and effusive language in his contribution to the birthday book have prompted calls from some quarters for fuller disclosure about the timeline and extent of contact between Mandelson and Epstein.
The documents dovetail with earlier reporting that showed Epstein cultivated friendships with prominent people and hosted gatherings that included celebrities and politicians. Prosecutors and victims’ advocates continue to press for transparency about the networks around Epstein and Maxwell, even as many of the central actors are deceased, incarcerated or otherwise out of the public spotlight.
As of publication, British government officials said they were monitoring developments and would consider any relevant information. Mandelson’s office has previously indicated a willingness to answer specific questions through formal channels but has not provided a full account of his association with Epstein beyond expressions of regret.
The release of the birthday book pages is likely to renew media attention and parliamentary questions in the United Kingdom about the ambassador’s past contacts with Epstein and whether further explanation should be provided to the British public about the relationship and its context.