Key facts
- The Department of Justice's Epstein Files contain thousands of mentions of Lord Peter Mandelson, including email correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.
- Epstein sent Mandelson $75,000 in payments between 2003 and 2004.
- Lawmakers accuse Mandelson of messaging Epstein with insider trading information in 2010.
- Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein's Manhattan apartment in 2009 while Epstein was serving a solicitation sentence.
- The House Oversight Committee has requested an interview with Mandelson concerning his relationship with Epstein.
The recent release of the Department of Justice's Epstein Files has brought to light extensive correspondence between Lord Peter Mandelson, former U.K. ambassador to the United States, and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The documents reveal thousands of mentions of Mandelson, including email exchanges that touch upon personal matters, travel plans, and alleged insider trading information.
One email from July 2009, sent the day Epstein was released from jail, shows Epstein writing to Mandelson, "Free and home." Mandelson responded, "How shall we celebrate?" to which Epstein replied with a suggestive comment about two strippers named Grace and Modesty. Mandelson also referred to Epstein as a "naughty boy."
Further exchanges from 2013 show Epstein asking Mandelson if he had "met with Putin." In a 2011 email, Mandelson inquired about purchasing assets in Greece, and Epstein responded cryptically, "Yes, but very greecy." Mandelson then asked, "Need a Lord on the board?"
Epstein's executive assistant, Lesley Groff, also communicated with Mandelson regarding his potential travel to New York in December 2010, noting his plans were still an option and that he had ideas about going to Africa. Bank records cited by lawmakers indicate Epstein sent Mandelson approximately $75,000 in payments between 2003 and 2004.
Lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee, including Reps. Robert Garcia and Suhas Subramanyam, have requested an interview with Mandelson. Their letter accuses him of messaging Epstein with insider trading information in 2010 regarding a "€500 billion deal to strengthen the shared currency." Additionally, they claim Mandelson stayed in Epstein's Manhattan apartment in 2009 while Epstein was serving his solicitation sentence in Florida. A photo of Mandelson in his underwear alongside an unidentified woman was also reportedly included in the DOJ's partial release of documents.
Mandelson has consistently maintained that he did not engage in criminal activity. The release of these files comes amid scrutiny of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's decision-making, particularly concerning his appointment of Mandelson, a known associate of Epstein. Starmer, who never met Epstein, has faced criticism from figures like Shadow CDL Alex Burghart for his judgment.