Lord Mandelson Denies Receiving $75,000 from Jeffrey Epstein Despite Court Documents

2026-02-01 region

London, 1 February 2026
Newly released US Department of Justice documents reveal convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein made three separate payments totalling $75,000 to accounts linked to Lord Mandelson between 2003 and 2004. The former Labour politician, who was dismissed as UK ambassador to the US in September 2025, claims no knowledge of these transactions. Government ministers now suggest Mandelson should testify before US Congress about his Epstein connections, with pressure mounting to strip him of his peerage. The revelations include undated photographs of Mandelson in underwear found in Epstein’s files, alongside evidence that Epstein separately funded his husband’s osteopathy course.

Documentary Evidence of Financial Transfers

Bank statements released by the US Department of Justice on 30 January 2026 provide detailed documentation of the alleged financial links between Epstein and Mandelson [1][4]. The first payment of $25,000 was made on 14 May 2003 to a Barclays account, with Reinaldo Avila da Silva named as the account holder and ‘Peter Mandelson’ listed as the beneficiary [1][4]. Two subsequent payments of $25,000 each were made to HSBC accounts in June 2004, again identifying ‘Peter Mandelson’ as the beneficiary [1][4]. These transactions occurred during a period when Mandelson held significant influence in the Labour government, serving in various ministerial roles under Tony Blair [GPT].

Additional Financial Support for Mandelson’s Family

The latest document release reveals a separate pattern of financial support from Epstein to Mandelson’s household after the convicted sex offender’s release from prison in July 2009 [5][7]. Emails show that in September 2009, Avila da Silva requested £10,000 from Epstein to fund an osteopathy course, with annual fees of £3,225 [5][6][7]. Epstein responded immediately, stating ‘I will wire your loan amount immediate’y’ [5][7]. Avila da Silva confirmed receipt of the funds on 17 September 2009, writing ‘thank you for the money which arrived in my account this morning’ [7].

Government Policy Influence Attempts

Perhaps most concerning are emails from December 2009 showing Epstein’s apparent attempts to influence UK government policy through Mandelson [4][5][6]. On 15 December 2009, just six days after Chancellor Alistair Darling announced a 50% ‘super tax’ on bankers’ bonuses, Epstein contacted Mandelson asking if the policy could be changed [5]. Epstein specifically inquired about ‘any real chance of making the tax only on the cash portion of the bankers bonus’ [5][6]. Mandelson’s response suggested active engagement with the request: ‘Trying hard to amend as I explained to Jes last night. Treasury digging in but I am on case’ [5].

Political Pressure Mounts for Congressional Testimony

Government ministers have now called for Mandelson to testify before US Congress about his Epstein connections, with Housing Secretary Steve Reed stating on 1 February 2026 that Mandelson has ‘a moral obligation’ to share information about Jeffrey Epstein [4]. Reed emphasised that ‘before taking any action like that, we need to understand exactly what’s happened’ and suggested that ‘it would be for Peter Mandelson to explain whether or not that money was properly declared, and if not, then he will need to account for that’ [3][4]. Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine echoed these sentiments, arguing that ‘anyone who has any knowledge of what Epstein was doing has a moral responsibility to his victims to help the authorities in any way they can’ [4].

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political scandal financial investigation