Newly released bank documents suggest that Jeffrey Epstein made payments totaling $75,000 (£55,000) to accounts connected with Lord Mandelson. These payments, which occurred between 2003 and 2004, have brought renewed scrutiny to the political figure's prior relationships.
The bank statements reveal three separate payments of $25,000 each referencing Lord Mandelson. This information comes from extensive documents made public by the US Department of Justice, the most significant release since new legislation mandated the sharing of such files.
In response, Lord Mandelson stated that he does not recall receiving the funds and questioned the authenticity of the documents, while expressing his regret for ever knowing Epstein, particularly given the latter’s criminal past. I unequivocally apologize to the women and girls who suffered, Mandelson stated.
Images of Lord Mandelson, uncovered in the same document release, include pictures of him in compromising situations. He claims to not remember the context of these images and has indicated that being featured does not infer misconduct.
The first payment to Lord Mandelson’s partner at the time was made from Epstein's JP Morgan accounts, with one transaction showing Mandelson named as a beneficiary. The other two payments were sent shortly afterward to HSBC accounts. Whether the payments were actually received in the associated accounts remains uncertain.
Mandelson has faced backlash for continuing to maintain a relationship with Epstein even after the financier's 2008 conviction for sex offenses, including soliciting minors. Following a series of revelations regarding his connections to Epstein, Mandelson was removed from his position as UK ambassador to the US in September 2025 by Sir Keir Starmer's government.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed commented on the situation, indicating that officials were unaware of any financial links to Epstein during Mandelson's time in office. Reed emphasized the lack of knowledge concerning Lord Mandelson's past associations with Epstein, categorizing them as events from more than two decades ago.
As investigations into Epstein's extensive network continue following his 2019 death while in custody, questions remain regarding the implications of the payments to Mandelson and their context within the broader narrative of Epstein's dealings with influential figures.
