Labour peer and former cabinet minister Peter Mandelson has performed a sudden U-turn, issuing a full and unequivocal apology for his association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This comes just a day after he declined to apologise during a televised interview.
Controversial BBC Interview Sparks Backlash
In an interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, broadcast on Sunday 11 January, Lord Mandelson was questioned about his links to the disgraced financier. During that conversation, he suggested that as a gay man, he had been unaware of Epstein's sex life and did not wish to be held responsible for crimes he claimed to have no knowledge of.
The peer was sacked from his role as ambassador to the United States in September when details of his support for Epstein became public. His initial refusal to apologise during the BBC appearance prompted significant criticism.
A Full Apology Issued Under Pressure
Facing mounting pressure, Mandelson released a detailed statement on Monday night, starkly contradicting his earlier position. He stated he was "wrong to believe" Epstein following his conviction and to continue their association afterwards.
"I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered," his statement read. He expressed regret for being among those who believed Epstein's lies over the voices of his victims, whose accounts he said he learned in full only after Epstein's death.
Mandelson's Defence and Regret
While offering a clear apology, Mandelson maintained his personal innocence regarding Epstein's crimes. "I was never culpable or complicit in his crimes," he asserted, explaining he was ignorant of the financier's actions due to the "lies he told me and so many others."
His statement concluded with a direct address to the victims: "their voices were not heard and I am truly sorry I was amongst those who believed him over them." This public reversal marks a significant attempt at damage control following the fallout from his weekend media appearance.
