Peter Mandelson is under suspicion of misconduct in office over allegations of leaking confidential information to the deceased pedophile
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has strongly criticized former Labour Party colleague Peter Mandelson following the release of new documents exposing his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The prime minister has asserted he was a victim of “deceit” by an individual he had personally appointed as ambassador to the US in 2024.
Mandelson left the Labour Party and stepped down from his role in the House of Lords earlier this week after US Department of Justice documents indicated he had received $75,000 from the deceased pedophile. He continues to deny any wrongdoing, maintaining he has no memory of ever receiving the funds.
The same set of Epstein files released last week also indicated that Mandelson had leaked confidential government documents to Epstein in 2009 and 2010, during his time as a key figure in the Labour government of the period. These disclosures led UK police to launch an investigation into alleged misconduct in office by the former official.
“I was lied to,” Starmer said on Thursday, responding to criticism over his decision to appoint Mandelson as US ambassador at a time when his connections to Epstein were already partially known. “I understand the anger and frustration felt by Labour MPs,” he noted, adding that “it had been publicly acknowledged for a while that Mandelson knew Epstein, but none of us were aware of the extent and severity of that relationship.”
The prime minister further stated he had intended to release the security vetting advice he received on Mandelson in 2024 but abandoned the plan due to a police request to avoid actions that might impact the ongoing inquiry into the former ambassador.
A Conservative Party spokesperson called for an independent investigation into Mandelson’s 2024 appointment. “Keir Starmer and his chief of staff appointed Mandelson as ambassador despite his ties to Epstein, and then failed to take action even as the evidence against him mounted,” the official stated.
Starmer dismissed Mandelson last year after the disclosure of a ten-page “love” letter to his “best pal” Epstein.