Photographs and a handwritten message that appear to show Britain's ambassador to Washington, Lord Peter Mandelson, in social settings with Jeffrey Epstein were made public this week by U.S. lawmakers, prompting renewed scrutiny of the relationship.
The material includes several images that appear to show Mandelson relaxing in casual clothes on a Caribbean visit and a page from a 2003 birthday book compiled by Ghislaine Maxwell in which Mandelson wrote "Happy Birthday, Jeffrey. We love you!!" The book was distributed to Epstein for his 50th birthday, according to the documents released.
The photographs, which a U.S. congressional source said were part of a larger set of material recently turned over to lawmakers, appear to include holiday images taken on Epstein's private Caribbean island. That island has been described by a woman who later said she was abused by Epstein as "orgy island." The newly released pages and images do not include any allegations against Mandelson.
Lord Mandelson, a senior Labour Party figure who was appointed Britain’s ambassador to Washington, has previously said he regretted meeting Epstein. There has been no public allegation that Mandelson was aware of Epstein’s criminal conduct. Epstein was found dead in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges; Maxwell was later convicted and is serving a prison sentence for her role in facilitating abuse.
The 2003 note from Mandelson appears among contributions from others compiled for Epstein's birthday. In it, Mandelson uses an affectionate phrase that was highlighted by the outlet that first published the images and by lawmakers discussing the documents. The release of the material comes as part of broader congressional interest in evidence collected during investigations into Epstein’s network and associates.
British and U.S. officials have not released a joint statement on the release of the material. A spokesperson for the British embassy in Washington reiterated previously made comments that Mandelson has expressed regret for having known Epstein and that there is no suggestion of wrongdoing on Mandelson's part based on the images and messages seen so far.
The new disclosures follow years of reporting and court filings that have gradually produced additional documents and photographs from Epstein’s files. Those materials have been used in civil cases and cited in investigations into how Epstein cultivated relationships with prominent figures. Lawmakers who released the documents said they were making the material public to provide transparency about individuals who associated with Epstein, while advocates for victims said the releases could help establish fuller pictures of his network.
Legal experts and privacy advocates have noted that photographs and congratulatory notes do not by themselves establish criminal conduct. Investigators and attorneys who have worked on Epstein-related matters say context — including dates, locations and corroborating evidence — is necessary to assess what the material shows about the nature of particular relationships.
The release is likely to prompt further media and political attention in Britain and the United States to public figures who associated with Epstein before his crimes became widely known. Mandelson has been a prominent figure in British politics for decades, serving in senior cabinet posts before his diplomatic appointment.
U.S. congressional staff who provided the material said additional documents remain under review. It was not immediately clear whether the new disclosures would prompt formal inquiries by U.K. authorities or additional statements from officials in London.