UK’s Starmer apologizes to Epstein survivors for making Peter Mandelson ambassador

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday apologized to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims for appointing Peter Mandelson as the U.K.’s ambassador to Washington despite his ties to the disgraced financier.

The Prime Minister said Mandelson lied and “portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew.”

Read more: British politician Peter Mandelson resigns from the House of Lords and may face police investigations over his ties to Epstein

He told the victims: “I’m sorry. I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m sorry that so many people in power let you down. I’m sorry that you believed the lies of Mandelson and his appointment, and I’m sorry that you’re still forced to watch this story unfold in public again.”

Starmer appointed Mandelson, a veteran politician, as ambassador to the US in 2024. The prime minister sacked him in September after emails were published showing he maintained his friendship with Epstein after the late financier was convicted in 2008 of sex crimes against a minor. Epstein died by suicide in a prison cell in 2019, while awaiting trial on US federal charges accusing him of sexually assaulting dozens of girls.

Starmer never met Epstein and has never been accused of wrongdoing. But the Prime Minister is under intense pressure over the appointment after newly released documents revealed new details about Mandelson’s close relationship with Epstein.

“You lied to me,” Starmer said. “It has been publicly known for some time that Mandelson knew Epstein, but none of us knew the depth and darkness of that relationship.”

Read more: The Epstein files reveal close ties to Trump’s influential inner circle

British police are investigating Mandelson over possible misconduct in public office. He is not accused of any sexual crimes.

Documents released by the US Department of Justice last week contain new revelations, including papers suggesting that Mandelson shared sensitive government information with Epstein after the 2008 global financial crisis. There are also dozens of gossipy and humorous letters that suggest a much closer relationship than Mandelson previously revealed.

The newly disclosed files also indicate that from 2003 to 2004, Epstein sent three payments totaling $75,000 to accounts linked to Mandelson or his associate Reynaldo Avila da Silva, who is now his husband.

He watches: What the latest files released about Epstein’s relationships with prominent figures show

Mandelson (72 years old) has been a major and controversial figure in the Labor Party since the 1990s. He twice had to resign from high positions in previous administrations due to financial or ethics scandals.

He was chosen as ambassador because his business experience, content network, and mastery of the political “dark arts” were seen as assets in dealing with President Donald Trump’s administration.

Critics say Mandelson’s ties to Epstein made his appointment too risky, and Starmer was, at best, naive.

Labor MP Paula Parker said: “I think the Prime Minister has shown that his judgment is questionable.” “I think he has questions to answer. I think he has a very long way to go to rebuild trust with the public, and trust within our party.”