Peter Mandelson ‘called Jeffrey Epstein his best pal’

The UK’s ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, allegedly called the late paedophile Jeffery Epstein his “best pal” in a birthday message made public by a US congressional committee.

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a copy of an alleged “birthday album” put together by the disgraced financier’s co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, which was received along with other documents from the deceased billionaire’s estate, on Monday (8 September).

The book, entitled The First Fifty Years, appears to include glowing messages from associates of Epstein, including allegedly Donald Trump, as well as from former trade secretary and New Labour guru Mandelson, who were listed as “friends” in the table of contents.

In another, dated from 2003, a message attributed to Mandelson read: “Once upon a time, an intelligent, sharp-witted man they call ‘mysterious’ parachuted into my life… you would spend many hours just waiting for him to turn up…

“And often, no sooner were you used to having him around, you would suddenly be alone again… leaving you with some ‘interesting’ friends to entertain instead…

“But then he would parachute back in… very occasionally, taking you by surprise in some far-off places… or in one of his glorious homes he likes to share with his friends (yum yum)…

“But wherever he is in the world, he remains my best pal!”

Mandelson has previously said he “very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein”, and has added: “I regret even more the hurt he caused to many young women.”

The book also appears to include a tribute from president Donald Trump, who has refused to release the so-called Epstein files despite promising to do so on the campaign trail. A hand-drawn image of a woman’s body was signed “Donald.”

Trump has already launched legal action against The Wall Street Journal which published a story about the existence of the birthday note in July.

In a statement further denying the validity of the message, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “As I have said all along, it’s very clear president Trump did not draw this picture and he did not sign it.

“President Trump’s legal team will continue to aggressively pursue litigation.”

Trump claimed in July that he had never visited Epstein’s private island, where the billionaire entertained some of the world’s most-powerful figures. Prosecutors have said the Caribbean getaway was used to hide sex-trafficking and the abuse of underage girls.

“I never had the privilege of going to his island and I did turn it down,” the president told reporters. “A lot of people in Palm Beach were invited to his island. In one of my very good moments, I turned it down. I didn’t want to go to his island.”

Trump went on to say: “For years, I wouldn’t talk to Jeffrey Epstein. I wouldn’t talk because he did something that was inappropriate. He stole people [who worked] for me. I said, ‘Don’t ever do that again’.

“He did it again and I threw him out of the place, persona non grata. I threw him out and that was it. I’m glad I did.”

In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor. He died in jail in 2019 awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide although his lawyers have disputed that, leading to a number of conspiracy theories.

PinkNews has approached the UK embassy in Washington for a comment from Lord Mandelson.