The disclosures form part of millions of records made public on Friday, representing the largest release so far under a U.S. law requiring the declassification of Epstein documents.
Documents released by the United States Department of Justice have indicated that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein transferred a total of $75,000 (£55,000) to bank accounts linked to Lord Peter Mandelson in the early 2000s, raising fresh questions about the extent of their association.
Bank statements contained in a vast tranche of newly published Epstein-related files revealed that three separate payments of $25,000 were made between 2003 and 2004, each referencing Lord Mandelson by name, according to the BBC.
The disclosures form part of millions of records made public on Friday, representing the largest release so far under a U.S. law requiring the declassification of Epstein documents.
Responding to the revelations, Lord Mandelson, a former member of the British parliament, said he had no recollection of receiving the money and questioned the authenticity of the records.
He expressed regret over his connection to Epstein, saying he was sorry for “ever having known Epstein” and for maintaining contact with him after his conviction, while apologizing “unequivocally to the women and girls who suffered”.
The files also reportedly include previously unseen photographs of the former UK ambassador to the United States appearing in his underwear.
In one redacted image, Lord Mandelson is reportedly shown standing beside a woman whose face is obscured.
Commenting on the image, Lord Mandelson said he “cannot place the location or the woman, and I cannot think what the circumstances were”.
However, the timing and location of the photograph remain unknown.
Officials and legal experts have stressed that appearing in Epstein-related documents does not, in itself, imply criminal wrongdoing.
The bank records, first reported by the Financial Times, appear to show that the payments originated from Epstein’s JP Morgan accounts and referenced Lord Mandelson, who was Labour MP for Hartlepool at the time, according to the BBC.
The first transaction, dated 14 May 2003, lists a Barclays account in the name of Reinaldo Avila da Silva, Lord Mandelson’s partner at the time, marked as “A/C”, commonly used to denote an account holder.
The same entry names “Peter Mandelson” as “BEN”, often shorthand for beneficiary.
Two further payments of $25,000 were sent just days apart in June 2004 to HSBC accounts.
In both cases, “Peter Mandelson” appears as the sole named individual, again designated as “BEN”.
It, however, remains unclear whether the funds were ultimately credited to the accounts.
Da Silva, who married Lord Mandelson in 2023, also features elsewhere in the latest document release.
Emails from 2009 show Epstein sending him £10,000 to support an osteopathy course.
Asked to comment on that loan, Lord Mandelson said he had been “very clear” about his relationship with Epstein in previous BBC interviews, adding, “I have nothing more to add.”
Lord Mandelson was appointed UK ambassador to the US by Sir Keir Starmer in December 2024 but was dismissed the following September after further details emerged about his friendship with Epstein.
Subsequent disclosures revealed he had remained in contact with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction, including sending messages that appeared supportive.
On Sunday, Housing Secretary Steve Reed reportedly said the government had not been aware of any alleged financial connections between Mandelson and Epstein when questioned by Laura Kuenssberg.
“You’re talking about things that happened more than 20 years ago,” Reed said, emphasizing that “there was no knowledge” at the time.
He added that Mandelson’s removal as ambassador followed the discovery that “there were things he had not disclosed” to the government.
“I think he should answer questions about his own life, not me,” Reed said.
In an interview aired on January 11, Lord Mandelson described his relationship with Epstein as a “terrible mistake”.
He said he believed he had been “kept separate” from Epstein’s sexual activities because he is gay and denied witnessing young girls at Epstein’s properties.
Days later, he offered a fuller apology to victims, telling Newsnight he was “wrong” to continue associating with Epstein.
Epstein’s 2008 conviction followed a plea deal in Florida, where he was sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges including soliciting girls as young as 14 for prostitution.
In 2019, he died in a New York jail while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Among the correspondence released are emails between Epstein and Mandelson that include an extraordinary exchange in which Epstein appeared to suggest Mandelson could rid himself of his peerage by marrying Princess Beatrice.
In an October 2009 message, Epstein wrote, “Or you can marry Princess Beatrice, the queen would have a queen as a grandson.”
Mandelson replied, “Remember, I am already her Lord President.”
In separate emails to a friend, Epstein later claimed he had offered the suggestion so Mandelson could pursue a bid for prime minister, something he could not do as a member of the House of Lords.