LORD Peter Mandelson branded Jeffrey Epstein a “master manipulator” as he fought to contain the fallout from explosive new US justice files that helped end his stint as Britain’s ambassador to Washington.
He said the release of historic emails and documents linking him to the disgraced paedophile plunged him into a “life-changing crisis”.
Mandelson admitted he was “too trusting” of a man he now recognises as a calculating predator.
Reflecting on his continued contact with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction, he told The Times: “[Epstein] told me he had been framed in his indictment in 2008 and I feel really bad about continuing my association with him afterwards.
“That’s why I wanted to apologise unequivocally for doing so, to the women and girls who suffered.”
He added: “Epstein was a master manipulator. I can see that now.”
The 72-year-old said the controversy erupted suddenly after newly disclosed emails surfaced, reportedly showing him urging Epstein to “fight for early release” and suggesting the conviction for soliciting an under-age girl should be challenged.
At the time, Sir Keir Starmer had publicly said he had “confidence” in Mandelson, but further disclosures left Downing Street unable to maintain its position.
“It was like a 5.30am drive-by shooting,” Mandelson said of the moment he was told his ambassadorship was over.
“I was at the edge of something. Suddenly, I was put at the centre of it – as a result of historical emails of which I have no memory and no record.”
It comes as…
Only days later, the US Department of Justice released around three million Epstein-related files, with Mandelson’s name appearing multiple times.
The material allegedly includes records suggesting payments totalling $75,000 to accounts linked to the Labour peer in 2003 and 2004, claims that he shared sensitive government information, and photographs from Epstein’s social circle.
By the Sunday following the release, Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party, saying he wanted to prevent “further embarrassment”.
Labour said disciplinary action had already been under way.
Sir Keir later said Mandelson should not remain a member of the House of Lords and asked the Cabinet Secretary to urgently review his emails with Epstein.
Former prime minister Gordon Brown has demanded a Cabinet Office investigation after what he described as the “wholly unacceptable” disclosure of confidential material, while opposition parties have called for the police to examine the claims.
Mandelson disputes several of the allegations.
He insists he has “absolutely no recollection” of receiving any money from Epstein and has suggested some of the financial documents may be fake.
He does accept that his husband, Reinaldo, received money from Epstein to fund an osteopathy course, saying it was presented as educational support from a charitable foundation.
He insists there was no wrongdoing and no attempt to influence him, stressing his husband is not accused of any offence.
Addressing claims that Epstein sought to sway banking policy while he was business secretary, Mandelson said the idea that a bursary could influence government decisions was “risible”, arguing ministers were being lobbied relentlessly by the entire financial sector at the time.
Mandelson said Epstein had provided advice as he moved from politics into commerce and finance, but admitted he had been naïve to see him as acting in good faith.
He likened the disgraced financier to “dog muck – the smell never goes away” as he described the lasting damage of the association.
Despite acknowledging “bad luck, no doubt some of it of my own making”, Mandelson rejected calls to disappear from public life.
“Hiding under a rock would be a disproportionate response to a handful of misguided historical emails, which I deeply regret sending,” he said.
Now back in rural Wiltshire and out of work, Mandelson says he is trying to rebuild after what he calls a “life-changing crisis”.
But with investigations continuing and further Epstein material still emerging, critics say the scandal may yet have further to run.
