Newly released emails show Peter Mandelson, the former cabinet minister, joking with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein about strippers following Epstein's release from prison in 2009. Mandelson described the day as 'Liberation day' and referred to Epstein as a 'naughty boy'. The emails are part of a document dump by US authorities from the so-called Epstein files.
In one exchange, Mandelson asked Epstein how they should celebrate his release. Epstein replied: 'With grace and modesty (those are the names of two strippers).' Mandelson responded: 'From now on, grace and modesty sd [should] be discovered in London.' The emails were traced to Mandelson via his BT Internet email address.
Mandelson reportedly told the Daily Mail the messages were his but claimed they were Epstein's observations, not his own. He said he was telling Epstein he 'should find grace and modesty not strippers'. In another message, Mandelson asked 'How is freedom feeling?', to which Epstein replied: 'she feels fresh, firm, and creamy'.
The revelations have sparked political backlash. SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn called the pair 'sick bastards'. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed 'disgust at the comments' but defended appointing Mandelson as US Ambassador, stating that 'the scale and the extent of the relationship between Mandelson and Epstein was not disclosed' and that Mandelson 'lied throughout the process'.
The documents also show arrangements for Mandelson to stay at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse in 2012, with warnings about media attention. Mandelson allegedly said: 'I want to stay. Let's go for it, and just be careful.' Additionally, Mandelson advised Epstein that Prince Andrew should 'sit tight' amid questions over their ties following the publication of a photo of Andrew with Virginia Giuffre.
