By Don Terry & Ben Emos | Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 7 min read

For years, the Jeffrey Epstein saga has lingered over politics, finance, and royalty, raising the question of whether anyone powerful would ever face consequences. This week, someone did—but not the prominent figures many expected. Instead, a British diplomat has become the latest casualty of a scandal that continues to reverberate across two continents.

Peter Mandelson, the United Kingdom’s ambassador to Washington, resigned after details of his close relationship with Epstein became impossible to ignore. The catalyst was a note discovered in Epstein’s notorious 2003 birthday book, a scrapbook filled with handwritten messages from well-known names. Mandelson’s contribution was unusually warm, referring to Epstein as his “best pal,” including several photos of himself, and commenting on Epstein’s “interesting” friends. One such remark was paired with an image of a young woman in lingerie, raising serious concerns about his judgment.

The revelation created a diplomatic storm. Mandelson was not just another political appointee; he was Britain’s chief representative to the United States. The embarrassment deepened because the same book reportedly contained a birthday message from Donald Trump, though the American president has denied ever writing it, insisting the note is a forgery.

The fallout quickly spread to London. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had handpicked Mandelson for the high-profile role, initially stood by him. During Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pressed him repeatedly on whether he truly trusted the ambassador, given his friendship with Epstein. Starmer responded that Mandelson’s ties had been declared during the vetting process and that he still had confidence in him.

That confidence collapsed within hours. Newly leaked emails, published by Bloomberg and The Sun, revealed that Mandelson had continued to support Epstein even after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor. In one message, Mandelson told Epstein he was “hopeless and furious about what has happened” and insisted he “could still barely understand it.” He even claimed the situation “could not happen in Britain,” a remark that ignored the fact that underage sexual exploitation is equally illegal in the UK.

There is no evidence Mandelson engaged in criminal behavior. He is openly gay and has never been accused of participating in Epstein’s abuse. But the emails suggested that Mandelson not only remained loyal to Epstein after his conviction but also offered to use his political contacts to help him rehabilitate his reputation. For the Foreign Office, that was the final straw. In a statement, officials said that the “depth and extent” of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein had not been clear at the time of his appointment, and that his suggestion that Epstein’s conviction was wrongful amounted to new information that could not be ignored.

The episode illustrates the divide that has emerged in Epstein’s aftermath. Those who distanced themselves before his 2008 conviction, even if they knew of his predatory behavior, have largely escaped lasting damage. Those who maintained ties afterward have faced severe consequences. Prince Andrew’s exile from royal duties, Bill Gates’s reputational struggles, and the career downfall of former JPMorgan executive Jes Staley are examples. Trump, at least so far, falls into the first group. Despite evidence that he knew Epstein had a preference for much younger women, he has avoided significant political consequences.

That distinction may be convenient, but it continues to shape public perception. In the United States, the Epstein case has become entangled in political theater, often overshadowing the voices of his victims. In Britain, the scandal is treated more directly as a matter of judgment and accountability, and Mandelson is now paying the price.

The timing of the resignation could hardly be worse for Starmer. Trump is expected in London for a state visit within weeks, and Starmer had hoped to use the occasion to strengthen trade relations and bolster support for Ukraine. Instead, his government is distracted by another crisis of its own making.

Until this week, Mandelson had been regarded as a success in Washington. At 71, the veteran politician had earned a reputation as a skilled negotiator with extensive contacts and political acumen. Known for decades as the “Prince of Darkness” for his ability to broker deals behind the scenes, he thrived in diplomatic settings. Yet Mandelson’s career has long been shadowed by scandal.

This is the third time he has been forced to resign from public office. In 1998, he quit over an undeclared loan from another minister. In 2001, he left again after a controversy involving passports for wealthy businessmen. Years later, Gordon Brown brought him back as a de facto deputy prime minister, a move that signaled both Mandelson’s enduring influence and the government’s need for his political skills. Starmer’s decision to appoint him as ambassador followed a similar logic. He wanted someone with connections, charm, and experience who could navigate Trump’s unpredictable style, even if Mandelson came with baggage.

That baggage was on display earlier this year. Asked in a Financial Times interview about his ties to Epstein, Mandelson said he regretted ever meeting the financier and the harm Epstein had caused. But he quickly grew defensive, cutting off further questions with an expletive-laden response. For many, the moment was an early warning that the issue could come back to haunt him.

Now his departure adds to a string of headaches for Starmer’s government. Just weeks earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resigned after revelations about unpaid taxes on a property purchase. Other ministers have also stepped aside under clouds of scandal, including a chief of staff accused of receiving excessive pay, a transport minister with a past fraud conviction, and officials tied to housing and corruption controversies.

At the same time, Britain’s economy remains sluggish, burdened by high debt and few options for new revenue. Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces a difficult November budget after ruling out tax increases on working families during the election campaign. Polls now show Labour trailing Reform UK, the populist party led by Nigel Farage, further complicating Starmer’s political standing.

Criticism is mounting from all sides. Conservatives argue that he has failed to control immigration across the Channel, while members of his own party attack him for welfare cuts and for not being tougher in his stance against Israel’s war in Gaza. His leadership is increasingly viewed as hesitant and reactive, a perception reinforced by his wavering defense of Mandelson just one day before accepting his resignation.

For many Americans watching from afar, the episode feels like a glimpse of something that has almost vanished from their own political culture: real consequences. In the United States, Epstein’s victims are still waiting for the most powerful figures in his orbit to be held accountable, while individuals like Donald Trump have so far managed to walk away untouched. Across the Atlantic, however, the story has played out differently. In Britain, one man’s poor judgment has cost him a prestigious career. Mandelson may not be the high-profile figure many hoped would finally face scrutiny, but his downfall shows that connections to Epstein can still come with a price—a reminder that accountability, however imperfect, has not disappeared everywhere.

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