The emails that tied British Ambassador Peter Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein

The emails that tied British Ambassador Peter Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein

• Newly released emails reveal Mandelson's close ties with Epstein over many years
• Mandelson shared sensitive government info with Epstein while serving in cabinet
• UK scandal triggers probe and political fallout for PM Starmer over Mandelson's role

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For years, Peter Mandelson insisted that his connection to Jeffrey Epstein was limited — that he had been on the periphery of the disgraced financier’s life. Newly released documents tell a more complicated story.

Thousands of emails and records made public by the US Justice Department reveal an enduring, personal and politically sensitive relationship between Epstein and one of Britain’s most prominent political operators. The disclosures have triggered a crisis for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who appointed Mandelson ambassador to the United States last year, the New York Times reported.

A friendship deeper than acknowledged

The emails show Mandelson and Epstein communicating frequently during the period when Mandelson was serving in government and afterward, as he built a lucrative consulting business.

In June 2009, while Epstein was still serving a sentence in Florida and allowed to leave jail during the day, Mandelson emailed to ask whether he could stay at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion for the weekend. Hours later, Epstein wrote to Jes Staley of JPMorgan suggesting a meeting between Mandelson and the bank’s chief executive, Jamie Dimon.

The correspondence undercuts Mandelson’s previous claims that he barely knew Epstein. The messages reveal birthday greetings, holiday exchanges and banter that suggested familiarity and affection. In one 2012 exchange, after Epstein declined a request to stay at his property, Mandelson replied: “No insult, don’t worry! I still love you.”

Private stays and discretion

Until recently, Mandelson had acknowledged staying once at an Epstein property after Epstein’s 2008 conviction. The newly disclosed material suggests he stayed at Epstein’s homes multiple times in New York in 2011 and 2012 and possibly in Paris.

Emails between Epstein and his staff indicate an awareness of the need for discretion during these visits. In one message about a 2012 stay, Mandelson wrote, “Let’s go for it, and just be careful.” An assistant expressed concern that “the news people don’t find out.”

The documents also show Epstein sending Mandelson money on several occasions, including funds to support Mandelson’s partner’s education. Epstein later complained in one email that the relationship felt “one way,” suggesting he had provided financial help without receiving enough in return.

Sharing sensitive information

Perhaps most politically damaging are emails that appear to show Mandelson sharing sensitive government information with Epstein while serving in Gordon Brown’s cabinet.

In 2009, Mandelson forwarded to Epstein a memo written for the prime minister about the potential sale of government assets. In another exchange, he appeared to coordinate efforts to push back against proposed taxes on bankers’ bonuses, suggesting that JPMorgan’s leadership contact the British chancellor and “mildly threaten.”

In May 2010, Mandelson confirmed to Epstein the timing of a European sovereign debt bailout before it was publicly announced.

These disclosures have prompted British authorities to examine whether Mandelson may have committed misconduct in public office by sharing potentially market-moving information.

Business ambitions after government

After Labour lost power in 2010, Mandelson quickly turned toward private consulting. Emails show him discussing potential retainers with major banks and drafting plans for what would become his firm, Global Counsel.

He shared business plans with Epstein and sought advice. Epstein encouraged him to “follow the money trail” and questioned how he intended to secure high-paying clients.

In one Christmas Day email in 2010, Mandelson wrote that he wanted to build networks that would allow him to “participate in real deals,” adding, “I do not want to live by salary alone.”

Political fallout in Britain

The revelations have become a full-blown political scandal in London. The British government has said that during the vetting process for the ambassadorial appointment, Mandelson denied staying with Epstein after his conviction or accepting hospitality. The newly released emails appear to contradict those assurances.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has accused Mandelson of “deceit” and apologised for trusting him. Opposition lawmakers and some members of Starmer’s own party have demanded full transparency about what the prime minister knew before making the appointment.

The government has agreed to release thousands of internal documents related to Mandelson’s vetting and appointment in the coming weeks.

Mandelson has previously denied any criminal wrongdoing and has not responded to fresh requests for comment.

The unfolding scandal has cast a shadow over Starmer’s leadership and reopened uncomfortable questions about how long Epstein’s network of powerful associates extended — and who knew what, and when.