Emails and other documents released this week show Lord Peter Mandelson, a senior Labour peer and Britain’s ambassador to Washington, maintained a close and prolonged correspondence with financier Jeffrey Epstein as U.S. and Florida authorities moved against Epstein, prompting fresh questions about Mandelson’s ties and his fitness for public office.
The messages include an apparent 2006 note from Mandelson to Epstein that asked, “What’s cooking?” after Florida police decided to charge Epstein with sexual offences involving a minor, and a 2008 email in which Mandelson wrote that he “thinks the world of you…you must fight for early release,” sent the day before Epstein reported to prison to begin an 18-month sentence, according to the material published in news reports. Other items in the newly public tranche include a 10-page birthday message in which Mandelson described Epstein as “my best pal,” and photographs showing Mandelson at Epstein properties.
The documents, which have been the subject of media reporting, also show correspondence from Epstein while he was in custody asking whether Mandelson had met a visiting Florida governor who "would be instrumental" in seeking clemency. Records and court papers indicate Mandelson continued to be in contact with Epstein for years after Epstein’s 2008 plea and incarceration and visited properties owned by Epstein, material published this week shows.
Mandelson, a one-time European Union trade commissioner and a senior figure in Britain’s Labour Party, was appointed ambassador to the United States earlier this year by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The disclosures have led to renewed political controversy, with Conservative politicians and critics questioning whether the government adequately assessed Mandelson’s associations ahead of his diplomatic appointment.
Prime Minister Starmer told lawmakers that "full due process was followed during this appointment, as it is with all ambassadors," and No. 10 said candidates are subject to extensive vetting by the Foreign Office and Cabinet Office. Downing Street also noted that Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein was publicly known prior to the appointment.
Mandelson has acknowledged the relationship and, in an interview this week, said he regretted maintaining the association "for far longer than I should have done." He told the podcast Harry Cole Saves the West that he had been misled by Epstein, described Epstein as a "charismatic criminal liar" and expressed sympathy for alleged victims. Mandelson said he never saw evidence of wrongdoing in his interactions and denied introducing women to Epstein, saying that personal circumstances — including his sexuality — meant such introductions did not occur.
The disclosures have drawn sharp criticism from lawyers for Epstein’s alleged victims, who urged a formal inquiry. Attorney Spencer Kuvin, who has represented several of Epstein’s accusers, called Mandelson’s continued association "disgusting" and said it should prompt an investigation. Lawyer Lisa Bloom described the revelations as "truly appalling." Sarah Ransome, who has said she was trafficked by Epstein, demanded Mandelson’s dismissal in comments carried by news outlets.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the ambassador’s position was "untenable," questioned Starmer’s defence of the appointment and called for answers over how the vetting process was carried out. The controversy emerged days ahead of a planned state visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to the United Kingdom, an event during which senior diplomatic figures would normally play prominent roles.
The material now in the public domain includes social-book pages compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s close associate who was convicted in the United States in 2021 and is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in recruiting young women. Those pages contain photographs, handwritten messages and sketches from a wide circle of Epstein’s acquaintances, some of whom have denied knowledge of any illegal conduct. The book and related items were made public as part of legislative and court proceedings in the United States.
News reports note that some of the items appear to date from the early 2000s, including a message from Mandelson to Epstein’s 50th birthday and photographs that place Mandelson at Epstein properties in the Caribbean. Other documents referenced in recent coverage include emails exchanged as federal and state prosecutors negotiated a resolution to multiple allegations against Epstein in 2007–2008, culminating in his 2008 guilty plea in Florida to state charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution.
The new disclosures also highlight overlap between Epstein’s continuing business interests and contacts and activities in the United Kingdom. Published material alleges Epstein and Mandelson discussed commercial matters, including a proposed deal tied to the sale of a government-owned banking business; Mandelson has said he never had a professional or business relationship with Epstein.
In recent days Mandelson sought to explain his conduct, saying he had been deceived about the extent of Epstein’s wrongdoing and expressing regret for not ending the association sooner. He acknowledged that more "very embarrassing" details might come to light and said he accepted public scrutiny as a consequence.
The unfolding coverage follows years of renewed attention to Epstein’s network after his arrest in 2019 and subsequent death. The revelations come amid broader scrutiny of how public figures and governments handle nominations and appointments when past associations with controversial figures emerge.
No formal investigation into Mandelson’s conduct was announced at the time of publication. Government officials said vetting processes were completed before the ambassadorial appointment. Lawyers for some of Epstein’s alleged victims said they would pursue further inquiries, and politicians across the British spectrum continued to press for clarity about what officials were told during the appointment process.
The documents published this week add to a sequence of disclosures about Epstein’s circle, including previously released flight logs, legal filings and testimonies in U.S. courts that detailed a long-running, international campaign of alleged sexual abuse and trafficking. Ghislaine Maxwell’s conviction and the 2008 Florida plea remain key legal markers in the wider Epstein saga.
As scrutiny intensified, Mandelson said he would co-operate with relevant inquiries and reiterated his regret for maintaining ties with Epstein. Officials in London and Washington said they would review the newly published material and respond through established channels as appropriate.