The emergence of a birthday “love letter” and additional emails to the disgraced financier has cost Peter Mandelson his position
The UK has withdrawn Lord Peter Mandelson as its ambassador to the US after reviewing newly surfaced emails about his relationship with late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Foreign Office said on Thursday.
In the emails, circulated by British media on Wednesday, Mandelson voiced his strong support for Epstein after the sex trafficker was indicted by a grand jury, assuring him that his “friends stay with you and love you.”
“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 Foreign Office said, adding that “Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information.”
The publication of the emails dealt the final blow to the Mandelson, who had already been struggling with the fallout from the Epstein 50th “birthday book” scandal. The massive bound tome was compiled by Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell and contains messages from his acquaintances and friends, including a 10-page letter from the former British ambassador.
The ambiguous letter, interspersed with photographs, describes Epstein as Mandelson’s “best pal” and portrays him as an “intelligent, sharp-witted,” and “mysterious” man.
“You would spend many hours just waiting for him to turn up… And often, no sooner were you used to having him around, you would suddenly be alone again… Leaving you with some ‘interesting’ friends to entertain instead,” one section reads.
Following the emergence of the “love letter,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer strongly backed the ambassador, stating that Mandelson has “played a key part” in strengthening UK-US ties in recent months.
Mandelson has repeatedly expressed regret over ever meeting Epstein, admitting after the emergence of the emails that he had carried on the ties “for far longer than I should have done” and painted himself a victim of a “charismatic criminal liar.”
The ultimate downfall of the diplomat comes mere days ahead of US President Donald Trump’s scheduled state visit to the UK.
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