Mandelson Photographed in Underwear at Epstein Home as New Emails Reveal £10k Payment
An extraordinary photograph has emerged showing what appears to be Peter Mandelson standing in his underpants inside one of the homes belonging to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The image, released as part of the extensive Epstein files, apparently captures the UK's former ambassador to the United States engaged in conversation with a woman wearing a white bath robe.
Mandelson's Response to the Photograph
A source close to Lord Mandelson has stated that the peer has no recollection of the photograph being taken and possesses no knowledge regarding its location or the identity of the photographer. In the image, Mandelson wears a dark t-shirt and white Y-fronts while casually chatting with the young woman, pointing towards a computer tablet within what seems to be a room in Epstein's New York mansion.
Financial Transactions Revealed in New Emails
New emails released on Friday as part of three million documents related to the child sex offender reveal that Epstein sent £10,000 to Mandelson's Brazilian husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, to cover the costs of an osteopathy course. Da Silva emailed Epstein on September 7, 2009, just two months after the paedophile was released from prison, having served twelve months of an eighteen-month sentence for child sex offences.
At that time, Mandelson served as business secretary and was in a relationship with Da Silva, whom he married in 2023. Da Silva wrote in his email: '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 osteoporosis school and confirmed that my annual fee is of £3225. They accept bank transfer and the details are as follows.'
Epstein responded immediately, stating: 'I will wire your loan amount immediately.' Mandelson then emailed Epstein with a reminder: 'Remind him that to avoid a gift-tax filing it must be a loan.' Da Silva thanked Epstein days later on September 17, writing: 'Thank you for the money which arrived in my account this morning.'
Further Financial Arrangements and Correspondence
In April 2010, da Silva again shared his bank details with Epstein, who forwarded the email to his accountant with the instruction: 'Send 13k dollars.' Another email from Epstein stated: 'Send 2k per month to Reinaldo.' In July 2009, while still serving his prison term through a day release programme, Epstein wrote to Mandelson: 'You didn't call me. I spent an hour with Rinaldo…(sic)'
Mandelson responded apologetically: 'I was immersed in Afghanistan…thanks for talking to Reinaldo. It did him (therefore me) a lot of good. You now see the problems. I cannot talk to him about these things at all. He won't listen. I am doing Sunday media then will call. Thanks again xxx'
Background of the Friendship and Recent Developments
Mandelson's friendship with Epstein began around 2002 and continued until 2011, a period during which Mandelson served as a cabinet minister in both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown's governments. The former ambassador was dismissed last September after a 2003 'birthday book' for Epstein contained a message from Mandelson referring to the paedophile as 'my best pal.'
In the same message, Mandelson told Epstein 'I think the world of you' and advised him to 'fight for early release' from his jail term. Flight records indicate that Mandelson travelled on Epstein's private jet, known as the 'Lolita Express', and stayed at his properties in New York, Palm Beach, and his private Caribbean island.
Previously published photographs have shown Mandelson in a bathrobe and another wearing swimming trunks. Mandelson has repeatedly apologised for his association with the paedophile and has been on a leave of absence from the House of Lords. Critics have argued that he should be stripped of his peerage and expelled from the Labour Party.
Mandelson's Public Statement
On Friday, Mandelson released a statement saying: 'I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered. I was never culpable or complicit in his crimes. Like everyone else I learned the actual truth about him after his death.' Epstein committed suicide in jail in 2019.
