Crystal Charles
The United Kingdom has dismissed Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States following revelations about the depth of his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed Thursday that Prime Minister Keir Starmer ordered Mandelson’s removal after newly surfaced emails showed he had urged Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before Epstein was sentenced in 2008.
The disclosures came a day after The Sun published emails suggesting Mandelson downplayed Epstein’s conviction. The revelations followed the release of Epstein’s 2003 50th birthday album by US House Democrats, in which Mandelson referred to Epstein as “my best pal” in a handwritten note.
“The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment,” the FCDO said in a statement.
Mandelson, 71, a veteran Labour figure and close ally of former prime minister Tony Blair, has long faced scrutiny for his links to wealthy and controversial figures, including Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. He previously resigned from government twice over allegations of misconduct in 1998 and 2001.
Despite the mounting criticism, Starmer told Parliament on Wednesday that Mandelson’s appointment had undergone “full due process.” However, the latest revelations left his position untenable.
Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while facing new charges, is believed to have abused hundreds of underage girls. His extensive network of high-profile acquaintances continues to generate political fallout in both the US and UK.
The latest disclosures have also reignited controversy around President Donald Trump, who is known to socialize with Epstein. Democrats released a letter from Epstein’s birthday album appearing to bear Trump’s signature in a lewd sketch, though the White House has denied its authenticity. Trump is pursuing a multibillion-dollar lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the letter in July.