(The Hill) — Peter Mandelson, the United Kingdom’s top diplomat in the U.S., was removed from his post Thursday, according to officials, over his ties to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Stephen Doughty, the U.K.’s Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, made the announcement to the House of Commons, citing “additional information in the emails written” by Mandelson.
Doughty cited one message in which Mandelson said he thought Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor in Florida “was wrongful and should be challenged.” Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019, pleaded guilty in the earlier case.
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“The emails show … that the depth and extent of Lord Madison’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment,” Doughty said. “Mindful as we all are of the victims of Epstein’s appalling crimes, [Mandelson] has been withdrawn as ambassador with immediate effect.”
The firing comes after a U.S. House panel released a book gifted to the convicted sex offender for his 50th birthday in 2003, which included a 10-page note from Mandelson about their friendship. The so-called birthday book, compiled by co-conspirator and socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, also included notes attributed to President Trump, former President Clinton and other prominent people.
Mandelson’s note was accompanied by several photos of the two vacationing together and he referred to Epstein as “my best pal.”
After the book was released, the diplomat expressed regret over their ties in an interview with The Sun.
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“One, I feel a tremendous sense, a profound sense of sympathy for those people, those women who suffered as a result of his behavior and his illegal, criminal activities,” he said. “And secondly, I regret very, very deeply indeed, carrying on that association with him for far longer than I should have done.”
Mandelson was a key player in the U.K.’s efforts to curry favor with Trump, which helped Britain land the first bilateral trade deal amid the White House’s sweeping tariff upheaval earlier this year. The ex-ambassador also spoke excitedly about the president’s upcoming visit in a recent interview with Breitbart News.
“The King is going to roll out the red carpet for President Trump,” Mandelson told the outlet. “I think it just shows how much our country respects the President, and I think it shows the closeness of our two countries.”
NewsNation partner The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
