A senior government minister has declared that anyone connected to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein should say sorry to his victims, following Lord Mandelson's refusal to issue a personal apology during a high-profile television interview.
Minister Calls for Contrition
Business Secretary Peter Kyle waded into the controversy after being asked by Sky News whether the former Labour cabinet minister should have apologised. "I think everyone associated with Epstein should be apologising for the lapse of judgement that led to any kind of relationship with that man," Mr Kyle stated. His comments came hours after Lord Mandelson appeared on BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
During that interview, Lord Mandelson acknowledged paying a "calamitous" price for his association with the convicted paedophile, which led to his sacking as US ambassador by Sir Keir Starmer in September last year. The dismissal followed the revelation of emails showing the extent of his support for Epstein after his initial conviction.
Mandelson's Defence and Regret
Lord Mandelson offered a nuanced defence of his actions, insisting he was unaware of Epstein's crimes. "I never saw anything in his life when I was with him, when I was in his homes, that would give me any reason to suspect what this evil monster was doing," he told the BBC. He suggested that being a gay man in Epstein's circle kept him "separate from what he was doing in the sexual side of his life."
When pressed on whether he would apologise directly to the victims, Lord Mandelson said he wished to apologise for a "system that refused to hear their voices." However, on the question of a personal apology, he was firm: "If I had known, if I was in any way complicit or culpable, of course I would apologise… but I was not culpable, I was not knowledgeable for what he was doing."
He admitted to a "most terrible mistake" in believing Epstein's story after the financier pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to soliciting prostitution and a minor. Despite this, emails showed Lord Mandelson later encouraged Epstein to "fight for early release" and told him "I think the world of you" just before his jail sentence began.
Political Reaction and Lasting Fallout
The interview drew criticism from other political figures. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, also appearing on the BBC programme, said the interview displayed "at best, deep naivety" from Lord Mandelson. She added that an apology "would have gone a long way for the women who were subjected to the most appalling treatment."
Lord Mandelson, who sought to distance himself by claiming he was "at the edge of this man's life," was directly contradicted by a handwritten note from Epstein's 2003 birthday book describing him as his "best pal." When asked if he deserved to be sacked, Lord Mandelson replied, "I understand why I was sacked... I'm moving on."
Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
