Lord Peter Mandelson has been requested to testify to the US Congress over his relationship with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
A letter from two Democrat members of the Home of Representatives referred to as on the previous British ambassador to Washington to reply questions from the Home Oversight Committee as a part of their probe into Epstein.
The disgraced peer’s hyperlinks with Epstein have led to requires Sir Keir Starmer to face down as prime minister.
The prime minister’s judgement has been questioned by critics over his appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador, a task thought of essentially the most prestigious posting in British diplomacy.
Former US ambassador Lord Mandelson. Pic: Reuters
The letter to Lord Mandelson, signed by representatives Robert Garcia and Suhas Subramanyam, mentioned: “When you not function British ambassador to the US and have stepped down from the Home of Lords, it’s clear that you simply possessed in depth social and enterprise ties to Jeffrey Epstein and maintain important data pertaining to our investigation of Epstein’s operations.
“Given the appalling allegations concerning Epstein’s conduct, we request that you simply make your self accessible for a transcribed interview with Committee workers concerning the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators.”
The letter added: “Quite a few items of proof have come to mild demonstrating your shut ties to Jeffrey Epstein over the span of a number of years.”
Among the many proof, it listed Lord Mandelson’s “handwritten note” in a fiftieth birthday e book for Epstein wherein he described him as his “greatest pal”.
It additionally highlighted the peer’s keep at Epstein’s New York residence in 2009 whereas Epstein was serving an 18-month sentence for soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor.
Additionally cited have been photographs of Lord Mandelson in his underwear within the newest Division of Justice launch from the Epstein recordsdata.
The letter gave Lord Mandelson a deadline of 27 February to reply to the 2 US politicians “because of the urgency and gravity of this matter”.
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Lord Mandelson served as US ambassador between February and September final yr earlier than he was sacked by Sir Keir over his relationship with Epstein.
Lord Mandelson has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing.
He beforehand apologised for maintaining his relationship with Epstein, which he admitted went on for too lengthy.
Final yr, the 2 US representatives made an identical request to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was then a prince.
