2 hours ago
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Brian WheelerPolitical reporter
United States District Court Southern District of New York
Peter Mandelson's friendship with Jeffery Epstein was known before he became US ambassador
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said Peter Mandelson misled him about the extent of his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein before he was appointed US ambassador.
Emails released by the US Department of Justice illustrate the depth of that friendship and appear to confirm that it continued, and even flourished, after Epstein's 2008 conviction.
In April 2009, while Epstein was still serving a prison sentence, he messages Lord Mandelson to say: "ahh... here we go again".
A few minutes later, Lord Mandelson picks up his Blackberry and replies: "Meaning? At least I am not involved."
Epstein replies: "Your romantic complexities".
On the day Epstein is released from jail, in July 2009, the two friends appear to have been in a jubilant mood.
"Free and home," Epstein emails the then Labour peer at 08.37am on 22 July.
"How shall we celebrate?" writes back Lord Mandelson, who at the time was business secretary under Gordon Brown.
"With grace and modesty (those are the names of two strippers)," Epstein replies.
"From now on, grace and modesty sd [should] be discovered in London," Lord Mandelson appears to joke back a few hours later, before adding: "How is freedom feeling?"
"She feels fresh, firm and creamy," Epstein says.
Lord Mandelson responds with two words: "Naughty boy."
The tone of the messages from this time is often jokey and indiscreet, occasionally veering into excruciatingly frank.
They also suggest that the pair were in frequent phone contact in addition to emails, with one or the other saying "call me".
The veteran Labour politician appears to have valued his wealthy friend's advice and support, on his political career as well as his private life.
When Lord Mandelson tells Epstein he is out of government in May 2010, and is at Labour Party headquarters for a "farewell" event for Gordon Brown, the disgraced financier offers a "big hug".
Lord Mandelson jokingly replies "you won't leave me will you?"
In November 2009, the pair are discussing pressure on Gordon Brown to resign as prime minister.
"What does tony [sic] say?" Epstein emails, in what appears to be a reference to Sir Tony Blair, the previous prime minister.
"Talking to him tonight but he has said I sd [should] facilitate not initiate," Lord Mandelson writes back.
Epstein responds, "tell gb [Gordon Brown] you see the winds blowing and you are loyal, first second and third […] I don't suggest you tell him to step down…tell him you are his friend and am frustrated as much as he".
"He will immed[iately] push panic button," replies Lord Mandelson.
"He would be stressed not knowing what you really think," Epstein responds, before emailing a bawdy joke about Lord Mandelson's judgement.
"Are you sure the backpressure from you[sic] lack of sex is not turning your brain into fois gras," Epstein writes.
"It's certainly a serious problem," Lord Mandelson seems to joke back. "Cure coming to London from S'hai [Shanghai] next weekend."
After his departure from government in May 2010, Lord Mandelson seeks Epstein's opinion on a draft of his memoir, The Third Man, which chronicles his role in New Labour's rise to power and his relationships with Brown and Blair.
Epstein seems to be concerned about the impact the book could have on Lord Mandelson's future business plans, which are the subject of several other exchanges.
"I have finished my first read […] The deals you want to be involved in require discretion, trust, handshakes, privacy. This book announces that you are willing to sell all of these for a farthing," Epstein wrote as part of an email exchange dated 16 May 2010.
"Your friend, and boss, tony [sic], is more often described as frail, flustered, tired, weak, and Gordon, flawed, demanding, pig-headed, irrationally determined."
Epstein adds: "It is not uplifting, it is gossipy and defensive," saying he found the draft book "troubling" and recommending that Lord Mandelson look at his manuscript again.
Lord Mandelson seems put out by his friend's assessment, saying: "You have read it too fast. It is not those things. But nor is it yet finished."
By 2012, the friendship between the two men appears to have soured somewhat.
In one exchange, Epstein expresses his "disappointment" that their relationship has been a "one way street".
"… jeffrey can I have, jeffrey can you give jeffrey can you organize… can you call, can you arrange .. you have yet to offer real assistance, sign of gratitude or appreciation. …sorry."
Lord Mandelson is apparently stung by Epstein's criticism and tells him in a reply "how much I appreciate your support," adding "during your trials and tribulations I never left your side, I was always there with advice and moral support, and I never turned away".
Lord Mandelson has been approached for comment.
