Peter Mandelson, the UK ambassador to the USA, has informed Sky Information he “regrets” his affiliation with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Lord Mandelson‘s hyperlinks to the late billionaire had been uncovered in a 2019 report by JP Morgan financial institution, filed in a New York court docket.
Epstein killed himself in August of that 12 months whereas awaiting trial on costs of intercourse trafficking minors.
He had beforehand served an 18-month sentence after pleading responsible to procuring an individual below the age of 18 for prostitution.
While serving that sentence, the JP Morgan report means that Mr Mandelson stayed at Epstein’s Manhattan flat.
Epstein wrote to his personal banker on 17 June 2009: “Peter might be staying at 71st over weekend…”
On the time, Lord Mandelson was the Enterprise Secretary within the UK authorities below then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown. He was appointed UK ambassador to the USA in December 2024.
Jeffrey Epstein. File pic: New York State Intercourse Offender Registry through AP
Sky Information requested him if he did, certainly, keep at Epstein’s flat whereas the disgraced financier was in jail.
He replied: “I am not answering any questions on him. My data of him is one thing I remorse, I want I might by no means met him within the first place.”
Requested why he had an affiliation with Epstein while he was in jail, Lord Mandelson replied: “Why did many individuals meet him? He was a prolific networker. And I want I might by no means met him within the first place.”
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As US ambassador, Lord Mandelson represents Britain’s pursuits in Washington and has vowed to deal with Donald Trump‘s administration with “respect, seriousness and understanding of the place they’re coming from politically”.
This comes after Lord Mandelson described the US president as a “hazard to the world”, for which he apologised earlier this 12 months.
He informed the Alain Elkann Interviews podcast in 2019: “What Donald Trump represents and believes is an anathema to mainstream British opinion.”
US President Donald Trump, vp JD Vance, and UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson. Pic: AP
Mr Mandelson added: “Even those that have a sneaking admiration for Donald Trump due to his character, nonetheless regard him as reckless, and a hazard to the world.”
However in January this 12 months, Lord Mandelson stated he now thought-about his remarks “as ill-judged and unsuitable”.
