Epstein Transferred Funds to Mandelson's Partner Following Prison Release
Newly published emails from the US Department of Justice have revealed that convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sent thousands of pounds in bank transfers to Peter Mandelson's husband after his release from prison in 2009. The documents, released on Friday, provide detailed evidence of financial transactions between Epstein and Reinaldo Avila da Silva, Mandelson's partner, raising significant new questions about the extent of the disgraced financier's relationship with the former UK business secretary.
Financial Requests and Transfers Detailed in Correspondence
According to the email correspondence made public by US authorities, da Silva contacted Epstein on 7 September 2009, approximately two months after Epstein's release from serving 13 months of an 18-month sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor. In his communication, da Silva requested financial assistance for an osteopathy course and associated expenses, providing specific banking details for the transfer of funds.
Da Silva wrote to Epstein: "I sent you a couple of emails last week regarding my osteo course expenses, incl fee, anatomical models, laptop if you can help me with this. I hope you received them. I just managed to speak to the fees office at the osteo school and confirmed that my annual fee is of £3,225 ... They accept bank transfer and the details are as follows."
Epstein responded later that same day, stating: "I will wire your loan amount immediated'y [sic]." The following day, da Silva sought clarification about whether a £10,000 payment included his school fees, to which Epstein replied: "includedd" [sic].
Ongoing Financial Arrangements Revealed
Further correspondence shows that da Silva confirmed receipt of funds on 17 September 2009, emailing Epstein: "thank you for the money which arrived in my account this morning." The financial relationship appears to have continued into the following year, with additional emails from April 2010 revealing da Silva sharing his bank details with Epstein once more.
According to reports from the Financial Times, which first brought these allegations to light, Epstein forwarded da Silva's banking information to his accountant with instructions to "send 13k dollars." Subsequent communications indicate Epstein later directed his accountant to "send 2k per month to reinaldo" [sic], suggesting a pattern of regular financial support.
Mandelson's Association with Epstein Under Scrutiny
These latest revelations come amidst ongoing scrutiny of Mandelson's connections to Epstein, which previously resulted in his dismissal as the UK's ambassador to Washington when details of his support for the financier emerged in September. The newly published documents indicate that Epstein and Mandelson maintained frequent contact, often exchanging brief messages about their locations and activities.
Earlier this month, Mandelson issued a public apology to Epstein's victims for having believed lies told to him by the convicted sex offender. This apology followed the release of additional documents in November by the House oversight committee, which is conducting an inquiry into the US government's handling of the Epstein case. Those documents revealed that Mandelson and Epstein remained in contact as recently as 2016.
A person close to Mandelson denied the allegations when approached by the Financial Times in September after the newspaper became aware of the claims. The Guardian has contacted Mandelson for comment regarding the latest email disclosures, but no response has been received at the time of publication.
The emergence of these detailed financial transactions between Epstein and Mandelson's husband adds another layer to the complex web of relationships surrounding the convicted sex offender, whose connections to numerous high-profile figures continue to be examined through ongoing legal proceedings and document releases.
