Lord Mandelson has issued a personal apology to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, acknowledging his past association with the convicted sex offender. The former US Ambassador faced backlash for his initial reluctance to apologize for his ties to Epstein. In a recent statement to BBC Newsnight, Mandelson expressed regret for believing Epstein’s lies and continuing their association after his conviction. He emphasized that he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes and apologized unequivocally to the women who suffered.
Critics, including Cabinet ministers and Baroness Kennedy, found Mandelson’s delayed apology concerning. Kennedy highlighted the importance of Mandelson taking responsibility and expressing remorse for the victims’ suffering. Mandelson admitted to being misled by Epstein and expressed regret for not standing with the victims earlier.
Despite Epstein’s previous conviction in 2008, Mandelson defended his support for Epstein, claiming he believed in Epstein’s innocence. Embarrassing emails between the two surfaced, showing Mandelson praising Epstein and advising him to seek early release. When questioned about his dismissal, Mandelson accepted the decision but stated he would not dwell on the past and was focused on moving forward.