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Lord Peter Mandelson has maintained that during his visits to Jeffrey Epstein’s properties, he never observed the presence of young women. Speaking in his first interview since being dismissed as the UK ambassador to the United States due to his association with Epstein, Mandelson told the BBC that he was unaware of the late financier’s criminal activities. He explained that he believed he had been “kept separate” from the illicit aspects of Epstein’s life, attributing this in part to his own sexuality, as a gay man.
Mandelson’s removal from the ambassadorial post followed the emergence of emails revealing supportive messages sent to Epstein after Epstein had been convicted for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Mandelson rejected calls to apologise directly to Epstein’s victims for maintaining contact, stating that he would have apologised if he had been “in any way complicit or culpable,” but insisted he was neither. He described the only individuals he saw at Epstein’s residences as “middle-aged housekeepers,” denying that he ever witnessed any young women or girls linked to Epstein’s predatory behavior.
During his BBC interview, Mandelson expressed regret over the broader system that failed to protect the victims who suffered at Epstein’s hands. He stated, “I want to apologise to those women for a system that refused to hear their voices and did not give them the protection they were entitled to expect.” He emphasised that the system appeared to shield Epstein rather than those he victimized, but reiterated he personally was not privy to Epstein’s illegal activities.
Additionally, Mandelson addressed his views on US President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks about Greenland, acknowledging Trump’s “directness” but dismissing the notion that the US might attempt to seize the territory by force. He highlighted that Trump was surrounded by advisers who understood that such an action would be “completely counterproductive” and harmful to US national interests. Mandelson underscored the strategic importance of the Arctic, suggesting the United States would take the lead in securing the region against geopolitical rivals.
Reflecting on his long-standing relationship with Epstein, Mandelson insisted he had never been part of Epstein’s sexual exploits, stating, “I think the issue is that because I was a gay man in his circle I was kept separate from what he was doing in the sexual side of his life.” He recounted staying on Epstein’s private island and visiting other properties, declaring, “The only people that were there were the housekeepers, never were there any young women or girls, or people that he was preying on or engaging with in that sort of ghastly predatory way.”
The controversy surrounding Mandelson intensified following the publication of emails in which he encouraged Epstein to “fight for early release” after his 2008 conviction and expressed affection shortly before Epstein began serving his subsequent prison sentence. Downing Street acknowledged that the full scope of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein was not known at the time of his appointment and deemed the supportive emails new information. Consequently, the government terminated his ambassadorial role immediately, citing the need to be mindful of Epstein’s victims.
Labour’s Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander criticised Mandelson’s comments as reflecting “at best, deep naivety,” asserting that a heartfelt apology would have been meaningful to those subjected to Epstein’s abuse. She also noted the importance of thorough due diligence before high-profile appointments but recognized that the depth of Mandelson’s connection to Epstein was not fully disclosed prior to his ambassadorial posting.
Throughout his career, Lord Mandelson has been a central figure in British politics, serving in numerous ministerial roles during Tony Blair’s government and navigating recurring controversies until Labour’s 2010 electoral defeat. This latest episode marks another significant chapter in his complex political journey
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