Lord Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the United States who was sacked over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has publicly stated he was unaware of his friend's crimes. In a television interview, the Labour peer claimed his sexuality kept him 'separate' from the illicit side of Epstein's life.
An Apology and a Defence on the BBC
Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC, Mandelson offered an apology to the women Epstein trafficked and abused. He expressed regret 'to my dying day' for a system that failed to protect 'powerless women'. However, he was adamant about his own ignorance, stating: 'If I had known, if I was in any way complicit or culpable, of course I would apologise for it. But I was not culpable; I was not knowledgeable of what he was doing.'
He directly linked his lack of awareness to being gay, suggesting it meant he was 'kept separate' from the sexual exploitation carried out by Epstein. The interview marked his first major public comments since being dismissed from his diplomatic post in late 2025, following the publication of his effusive tribute in Epstein's birthday book.
A Timeline of a Controversial Friendship
The relationship between the senior Labour figure and the disgraced financier was longstanding and well-documented:
- 2002: A memo reportedly written by Mandelson to then-Prime Minister Tony Blair, attempting to arrange a meeting between Blair and Epstein, was blocked from release by the National Archives.
- 2003: For Epstein's notorious 50th birthday book, Mandelson contributed a ten-page entry. He described Epstein as his 'best pal' and signed off with 'We love you!'
- 2006: When Florida police recommended charging Epstein with sex crimes, Mandelson messaged him saying he was 'following you closely and here whenever you need'.
- 2007: The pair were photographed celebrating a birthday at Epstein's Paris apartment, shortly after Epstein secured a controversial plea deal.
- 2009: An internal JP Morgan report suggests Mandelson stayed at Epstein's Manhattan home while Epstein was in prison.
Fallout and Ongoing Scrutiny
The revelations from the birthday book, published in September 2025, created immediate and intense political pressure. Mandelson's dismissal as ambassador swiftly followed, ending a turbulent tenure. His latest explanation seeks to draw a line under the scandal, but is likely to prompt further questions about the judgement of a senior political figure who maintained close contact with a known sex offender through multiple police investigations.
The case continues to highlight the deep connections between Epstein's network and global political elites, raising persistent concerns about influence and accountability.
