London, United Kingdom — The British government announced Wednesday it will release files related to the appointment of former U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson, despite concerns tied to his past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision follows Mandelson’s resignation from the Labour Party and Parliament earlier this week after renewed scrutiny over emails showing his friendship with Epstein continued after Epstein’s 2008 prostitution conviction.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously dismissed Mandelson from his diplomatic role in September, citing disclosures that raised questions about judgment and transparency. Starmer said Wednesday that Mandelson repeatedly misled his team when questioned about the extent of his relationship with Epstein, both before and during his tenure as ambassador. While the government plans to release relevant documents, officials said materials deemed harmful to national security, international relations, or active investigations may be withheld and reviewed by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee.
Starmer is also facing criticism after acknowledging he was aware of Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein at the time of the appointment, though he maintains he did not understand how extensive the relationship was. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called for the Intelligence and Security Committee to independently determine which documents should be made public.
The move comes as the Trump administration recently released a final tranche of Epstein-related documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Those records suggest Mandelson discussed lobbying efforts on financial policy with Epstein and shared sensitive information following the 2008 financial crisis. Mandelson has not been charged with any crime, and investigations in the UK remain limited.
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