UK Removes Ambassador Peter Mandelson Over Epstein Connections

According to Rokna, citing CNN, Peter Mandelson was dismissed as Britain’s ambassador to the United States on Thursday after his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein emerged as a politically sensitive issue for Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Mandelson had faced growing scrutiny following the release by US lawmakers on Monday of Epstein’s “birthday book,” compiled for his 50th birthday in 2003, in which Mandelson had written a handwritten note calling Epstein “my best pal.”

Despite the revelations, Starmer publicly defended Mandelson on Wednesday, assuring Parliament of the ambassador’s “full confidence.” However, the scandal intensified when Bloomberg published a set of emails between Mandelson and Epstein, showing Mandelson’s continued support for Epstein and offers to discuss his 2008 Florida legal case with political contacts.

Epstein had pleaded guilty to two state prostitution charges, serving 13 months in prison under a controversial plea deal. The emails obtained by Bloomberg revealed that Mandelson remained supportive of Epstein even after his conviction, at one point offering strategic advice referencing Sun Tzu’s Art of War.

The UK Foreign Office stated in a release to CNN that the emails demonstrated the “depth and extent” of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein was materially different from what was known at the time of his appointment.

In a letter to embassy staff after his dismissal, Mandelson described his ambassadorial role as “the privilege of my life,” expressing deep regret over his past association with Epstein and his concern for the victims. He added that he had no choice but to accept Starmer’s decision. James Roscoe, the former deputy head of mission in Washington, will serve as interim ambassador.

The controversy added another significant challenge for Starmer, raising questions about his judgment in appointing Mandelson despite his well-known ties to Epstein. Mandelson, who had previously been forced out of three senior government roles over separate scandals, had repeatedly downplayed inquiries into his relationship with Epstein, once describing journalistic questions about it as an “obsession.”

The situation escalated after the release of Epstein’s 50th “birthday book,” compiled by his then-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2022. The book contains 238 pages, including a handwritten note from Mandelson praising Epstein as a close friend. Mandelson later admitted in an interview with The Sun that the note was “very embarrassing” and expressed concern about further potentially awkward disclosures.

The Foreign Office said Mandelson’s claim that Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful constituted new information. In response, he was recalled from his post immediately.

Widely known as the “Prince of Darkness” for his political acumen, Mandelson played a key role in the Labour Party’s transformation in the 1980s and 1990s, including helping to negotiate the US-UK trade deal during his ambassadorial tenure. Despite initial praise, including from former President Donald Trump, the appointment ultimately backfired on Starmer.

Mandelson’s departure comes just days before Trump’s planned state visit to the UK, which includes a banquet at Windsor Castle with King Charles III, a visit that may now be overshadowed by the Epstein-related controversy.