Former UK Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson announced that he has resigned from the Labour Party amid deepening ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
In a letter to Labour Party General Secretary Hollie Ridley and obtained by the BBC, Mandelson wrote, “I have been further linked this weekend to the understandable furore surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and I feel regretful and sorry about this.”
“Allegations which I believe to be false that he made financial payments to me 20 years ago, and of which I have no record or recollection, need investigating by me,” Mandelson added. “While doing this I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party.”
“I want to take this opportunity to repeat my apology to the women and girls whose voices should have been heard long before now,” the letter read. “I have dedicated my life to the values and success of the Labour Party and in taking my decision, I believe I am acting in its best interests.”
Mandelson was fired in September after emails exposed his connections to Epstein. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office announced Mandelson’s departure soon after the emails were released. “In light of the additional information in emails written by Peter Mandelson, the Prime Minister has asked the Foreign Secretary to withdraw him as Ambassador,” the office’s statement read.
“The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment,” the statement continued. “In particular Peter Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged is new information.”
