Lord Mandelson has stated he doesn’t keep in mind receiving funds totalling $75,000 (£54,000) from Jeffrey Epstein after paperwork have been present in newly launched information that appeared to point out the paedophile financier despatched him the sum.
The peer could have been despatched three separate funds of $25,000 (£18,000) by Epstein in 2003 and 2004, paperwork launched by the US Division of Justice on Friday seem to point out.
A spokesman for Lord Mandelson instructed Sky Information: “Neither he nor his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, has any document or recollection of receiving funds in 2003 or 2004 or know whether or not the documentation is genuine.”
The previous enterprise secretary and EU commerce commissioner additional questioned the authenticity of the paperwork, citing false claims he had a US social safety quantity, questionable US-dollar cheque funds into UK banks, incorrect beneficiary particulars, and a number of primary errors in dates, spelling and formatting.
Lord Mandelson stated: “There are additionally a number of formatting errors within the paperwork and I would love JP Morgan to substantiate on the document that they’re sure these paperwork are genuine and that the person cheques are additionally genuine.
“Till this reality checking has been achieved I keep my unique place which is that I’ve no document and no recollection of ever receiving these sums and that these statements are false.”
Mandelson was the Labour MP for Hartlepool on the time when the information counsel the funds have been alleged to have been made.
The primary, on 14 Could 2003, was despatched to a Barclays account held by Reinaldo Avila da Silva, Mandelson’s accomplice, itemizing Mandelson as BEN – sometimes quick for the beneficiary of the funds.
One other doc within the DOJ launch suggests a possible cost of $25,000 on 24 June 2004, and apparently despatched to an account which names Peter Mandelson because the account holder.
A 3rd cost is dated 30 June 2004. In August of that 12 months, Mandelson was appointed because the UK’s EU commissioner.
Strain is rising on each Lord Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to testify earlier than the US Congress over their hyperlinks to Jeffrey Epstein.
It comes after much more info linking the pair to the paedophile financier was launched over the weekend.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has misplaced all his titles and related royal roles as a result of his hyperlinks to Epstein, whereas Lord Mandelson was sacked because the UK’s ambassador to the US.
There have additionally been requires the New Labour grandee to be stripped of his peerage. And on Sunday, Trevor Phillips delivered a blunt message to his buddy of practically 50 years, warning Lord Mandelson that his political profession was over.
Chatting with Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Housing Secretary Steve Reed stated: “If anyone has info or proof that they’ll share which may assist to know what’s gone on and convey justice for these victims then they need to share it.
“Whether or not that’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, whether or not it is Lord Mandelson, or whether or not it is anyone else.”
The minister added that folks have a “ethical obligation to share what they know”.
Within the newest tranche of Epstein information, it was revealed Lord Mandelson was “trying hard” to change government policy on bankers’ bonuses at Epstein’s behest in December 2009, within the wake of the 2008 monetary disaster. By that time, he had returned to the UK authorities and was enterprise secretary.
The paperwork additionally confirmed correspondence in September 2009 between Epstein and Lord Mandelson’s husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, who requested the financier to pay him hundreds to fund an osteopathy course and different bills.
Epstein was launched from jail in July 2009, having pleaded responsible to trafficking a minor.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated that Andrew ought to give evidence to the US Congress, which is investigating Epstein, if requested. Now stress is constructing on Lord Mandelson to do the identical.
Strain is rising on the pair to testify. Pic: PA
Conservative shadow dwelling secretary Chris Philp instructed Sky Information that each Andrew and Lord Mandelson ought to “give all the help they probably can” to authorities investigating Epstein.
Trevor Phillips stated in the beginning of his personal present that he had identified Lord Mandelson for nearly half a century.
He went on: “I’ve not spoken personally to Lord Mandelson concerning the launch this weekend of paperwork, messages, images and movies associated to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
“He was invited to hitch us this morning however declined.
“Nevertheless, he has instructed this programme that neither he nor his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, has any document or recollection of receiving funds in 2003 or 2004, or is aware of whether or not the documentation is genuine.
“He does settle for that Reinaldo obtained a mortgage of $10,000 from Epstein while he, Mandelson, was a senior cupboard minister, and he acknowledges that in the identical interval, Epstein was amongst those that lobbied him on necessary coverage issues.
“There isn’t any suggestion that Lord Mandelson has completed something illegal.
“However I might declare the buddy’s privilege to inform Peter that he has been, at finest naive and silly, at worst grasping and duplicitous.
“No matter is true so far as politics and public workplace are involved, for Peter Mandelson, that is the tip.”
Learn extra:
Key findings from the latest Epstein files
Clear Epstein welcomed into Andrew’s family fold
Epstein sent thousands to Mandelson’s husband
Phillips completed: “The query now’s whether or not the worth of his misjudgement is to be paid solely by the person himself, or whether or not those that trusted him and elevated him to the peerage, and to one of many highest diplomatic posts obtainable, must also share in his ignominy.”
Requested to touch upon Lord Mandelson and Epstein, Sir Keir stated: “Clearly he was eliminated as ambassador in relation to the additional info that got here to mild in September of final 12 months and I’ve nothing extra to say in relation to Peter Mandelson.”
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Lord Mandelson has beforehand supplied an unequivocal apology to Epstein’s victims. Being pictured or talked about within the Epstein information is just not an indicator of any wrongdoing.
Andrew paid tens of millions to Virginia Giuffre, a girl he has claimed by no means to have met, to settle a civil sexual assault declare in 2022.
In a press release issued on 17 October 2025, the previous prince reiterated that he “vigorously” denies the accusations in opposition to him.
