British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued an apology to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday and expressed regret for appointing Peter Mandelson as the U.S. ambassador, who had close ties with the deceased sex offender.
Starmer admitted that he was unaware of the extent of the relationship between Mandelson and Epstein when he appointed him to the position in December 2024. He accused Mandelson, a long-time Labour politician, of deceiving him about their connections.
“I apologize for what you have endured, for the failures of those in power, for believing Mandelson’s falsehoods and appointing him, and for the public rehashing of this distressing narrative,” Starmer stated.
While Starmer had previously committed to disclosing the vetting guidance he received regarding Mandelson’s appointment, he clarified on Thursday that he was also respecting a police directive not to release any information that could influence an ongoing investigation. Allegations have surfaced that Mandelson, aged 72, may have shared confidential government information with Epstein, who passed away in 2019 while in custody following a U.S. federal indictment.
“It was widely known that Mandelson had a relationship with Epstein, but the true depth and darkness of their association were not apparent to us,” Starmer informed reporters.
In response to inquiries from journalists, Starmer affirmed that he did not believe his error warranted stepping down as prime minister.
“I acknowledge the frustration and anger,” he remarked. “I share in that sentiment.”
Mandelson is among the numerous public figures identified in recent U.S. Justice Department document releases related to the Epstein investigations. While being featured in these documents does not imply criminal activity, it has raised concerns about associations with Epstein. Mandelson has denied being aware of the full extent of Epstein’s misconduct, which included numerous allegations of sexual abuse and trafficking by women. However, their relationship persisted beyond Epstein’s 2008 conviction in Florida.
Emails from the recent Epstein document release indicate that Mandelson provided Epstein with a memo in 2009 regarding potential U.K. asset sales and tax adjustments for then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and in 2010, he informed Epstein in advance about a European Union decision.
Mandelson resigned from both his party and the House of Lords this week.
During a parliamentary session, Clive Efford, a Labour lawmaker, emphasized the need to scrutinize who advised the prime minister. In contrast, Conservative Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of evading tough questions about the failure of Mandelson’s vetting process by using the ongoing police investigation as a shield.
“They are attempting to shift the blame solely onto Peter Mandelson, which is unjust,” Badenoch remarked, highlighting the repeated mentions of Nigel Farage in the Epstein-related files.
Starmer nominated Mandelson for the ambassadorial role in December 2024. Mandelson, who was initially elected as an MP in 1992, held various positions in the Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown before becoming a member of the House of Lords.
Mandelson was dismissed from his ambassadorial post in September. Emails leaked to the British media at that time revealed that Mandelson had advised Epstein to contest his initial conviction for soliciting a minor. The ministry deemed the revelation of Mandelson’s suggestion that Epstein’s conviction was unjust as “new information.”
Furthermore, Bloomberg News reported a letter purportedly from Mandelson referring to Epstein as his “best pal,” which was included in a compilation organized by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate now incarcerated.
Mandelson expressed deep remorse last year for his association with Epstein, acknowledging that he had been deceived by Epstein’s fabrications. Starmer later voiced his support for Mandelson in Parliament.
When asked about Mandelson’s resignation, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed regret before diverting attention to his own connections to Epstein and criticizing Democrats for politicizing the issue.