The British government has released the first batch of documents related to Peter Mandelson's controversial 2025 appointment as ambassador to the U.S., revealing internal warnings about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The 147-page disclosure comes amid ongoing police investigations and parliamentary demands for transparency.
Records show officials alerted Prime Minister Keir Starmer in December 2024 that Mandelson's continued association with Epstein after the financier's 2008 conviction posed significant reputational risks. The documents detail how Mandelson maintained contact with Epstein through 2011, including a reported 2009 stay at Epstein's residence while the latter was incarcerated.
Internal communications reveal divisions within Starmer's administration during the vetting process. While then-Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney raised concerns, Communications Director Matthew Doyle reportedly accepted Mandelson's explanations. National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell described the appointment process as "unusual" and "weirdly rushed" in September 2025 meeting notes.
The files also disclose contentious severance negotiations after Mandelson's dismissal seven months into his four-year term. While the former minister initially sought £547,201 in compensation, the government approved £75,000 in total payments.
London's Metropolitan Police confirmed Mandelson remains under investigation for alleged misconduct in public office following his February 2026 arrest. The disclosure follows renewed scrutiny after the U.S. Justice Department released Epstein-related files in January 2026.
Mandelson, who served under former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, maintains he provided accurate information during vetting and denies any criminal wrongdoing. The released documents leave unresolved questions about potential omissions in his background checks.
