Labour peer Lord Peter Mandelson has stated he has no recollection of receiving payments totalling $75,000 from the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of a substantial tranche of files by the US Department of Justice. The documents, made public on Friday, include bank statements that appear to show three separate transactions of $25,000 each linked to Mandelson in 2004.
Bank Statements and Photographic Evidence
One of the disclosed bank statements indicates a payment of $25,000 was made to the account of Reinaldo Avila da Silva, who was Mandelson's partner at the time and is now his husband. The statement lists "Peter Mandelson" as the beneficiary, with the allocation "BEN" noted beside his name. Two additional statements from May and June 2004 feature further $25,000 payments, one directly to an account in Mandelson's name and another where he is again listed as a beneficiary.
Alongside the financial records, the Epstein files contain photographs that appear to depict Lord Mandelson in his underwear, standing in a room with a woman whose face has been obscured. These images are undated but have sparked significant public interest and scrutiny.
Mandelson's Response and Political Fallout
In an interview with the BBC, Lord Mandelson expressed uncertainty about the authenticity of the documents and claimed he could not recall receiving the payments. Regarding the photographs, he stated, "I cannot place the location or the woman and I cannot think what the circumstances were." Mandelson, who was serving as the Labour MP for Hartlepool at the time of the alleged transactions, has previously apologised unequivocally to Epstein's victims and insisted he has "nothing more to add" on his connections to the financier.
The revelations have prompted political reactions, with Communities Secretary Steve Reed questioned by Sky News on Sunday about whether Mandelson should be stripped of his peerage due to his association with Epstein. Reed responded cautiously, saying, "I think before taking any action like that, we need to understand exactly what's happened. You're asking me here about something that happened nearly 20 years ago. I don't know the full detail of it." He emphasised that Mandelson should explain whether the money was properly declared, noting that declaration rules were in place at the time.
Context and Additional Disclosures
The files also reveal that Epstein transferred thousands of pounds to Mr da Silva to cover a fee for attending the British School of Osteopathy. Lord Mandelson was dismissed from his role as US ambassador in 2025 because of his links to Epstein, highlighting the ongoing impact of these associations.
It is important to note that being pictured or mentioned in the Epstein files does not necessarily indicate wrongdoing. However, the combination of financial records and personal photographs has intensified the scrutiny on Mandelson's past interactions with the disgraced financier.
