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UK ambassador to the United States dismissed over Epstein ties
The British ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, has been dismissed following revelations about his close ties with the late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the UK Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday.
The decision comes as a major embarrassment for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, just days before U.S. President Donald Trump’s scheduled state visit to the United Kingdom.
According to the Foreign Office, recently disclosed emails between Mandelson and Epstein “demonstrate the depth and scope of their relationship to be significantly greater than was known at the time of his appointment.” Citing respect for Epstein’s victims, the ministry stated that Mandelson was removed from his post with immediate effect.
Pressure had been mounting on Starmer’s government, which appointed Mandelson less than a year ago in an effort to strengthen relations with Trump. A letter written by Mandelson in 2003 for Epstein’s 50th birthday resurfaced this week, describing the financier as his “best friend” and praising him as “intelligent and witty.”
Although the prime minister initially defended the ambassador, emphasizing Mandelson’s “deep regret” over his past association with Epstein, further revelations proved damaging. Reports from British media, including The Sun, revealed that Mandelson sent messages of support to Epstein while he faced prosecution in Florida for sex trafficking of minors. In one email, Mandelson urged Epstein to “fight for early release,” while questioning the fairness of his 2008 conviction.
For Starmer, the dismissal is the second political setback in less than a week, following the resignation of his deputy prime minister over a tax scandal. The diplomatic shake-up now casts a shadow over Trump’s high-profile state visit, scheduled in less than two weeks.