Peter Mandelson has declined to apologise to Jeffrey Epstein's victims for his friendship with the convicted child sex offender, claiming he knew nothing of the financier's predatory behaviour because he was a gay man kept separate from Epstein's sexual activities. In an interview with the BBC, the Labour peer described his association with Epstein as a 'calamitous' mistake and called him an 'evil monster,' but stopped short of issuing a direct apology.
Mandelson, who was sacked as US ambassador in September after emails emerged showing his support for Epstein following his 2008 conviction, said he had believed Epstein's excuses out of 'misplaced loyalty.' He stated he 'never saw anything' that would lead him to suspect the abuse, and that as a gay man he was 'kept separate from what he was doing in the sexual side of his life.'
Pressed on whether he would apologise, Mandelson said he regretted that the victims were not given protection, but added: 'If I was in any way complicit or culpable, of course I would apologise … but I was not culpable, I was not knowledgeable for what he was doing.' Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander criticised his response as showing 'deep naivety,' while Labour peer Ayesha Hazarika called the interview a 'slap in the face to Epstein victims.'
Mandelson acknowledged he understood why Prime Minister Keir Starmer removed him from the ambassador role, but said he was 'moving on' and would not revisit the issue. The controversy was sparked by emails in which Mandelson told Epstein to 'fight for early release' and described him as 'my best pal' in a birthday book entry.
