Peter Mandelson was removed from his post as the UK ambassador to the US in September. This came after emails emerged showing messages of support he had sent to Epstein after the American was convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor. The government said the emails showed that Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein was “fundamentally different” to what was known at the time he was given the job.
“Birthday Book”: In other documents released in September, Mandelson called Epstein “my best friend,” according to a letter in a so-called “birthday book.” A spokesman for Mandelson told the BBC at the time that he had long been clear that he “deeply regretted ever having known Epstein.”
Friendship with Epstein, “a terrible mistake”: Last month, Mandelson told the BBC that he had never seen the girls at Epstein’s properties; the following day, he personally apologized to Epstein’s victims for his decision to maintain their friendship after the latter’s conviction.
Documents suggest payments from Epstein:
Late Friday, the U.S. government released more than three million documents related to Epstein. The latest included bank statements that appear to show Epstein sent three separate payments to accounts linked to Mandelson. The former ambassador said he has no record or memory of receiving the funds and does not know whether the documents are authentic.
An edited photo:
Separately, images of Mandelson in his underwear were also discovered in the latest batch of Epstein documents. In one of the edited photos, he is seen standing next to a woman, whose face is not visible. Mandelson said he “cannot identify the location or the woman and does not remember the circumstances
