Sir Keir Starmer, who chose the Grandee Labor to be the representative of the United Kingdom in Washington, made the decision after the emails showed that the peer sent messages of support even though Epstein was in prison for sexual offenses.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that emails showed that “the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein are materially different from those known at the time of his appointment”.
He has now been removed as an ambassador with immediate effect.
Lord Mandelson would have told Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, and said to him: “I think the world of you” the day before his sentence for having asked the prostitution of a minor in June 2008.
The Prime Minister had defended Lord Mandelson until the emergence of emails, insisting that he had crossed an appropriate verification process and had helped establish a successful relationship with Donald Trump’s White House.
Lord Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein was known, but Bloomberg and Sun published emails showing that the relationship continued after the crimes committed by the financier emerged.
The Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Stephen Doughty, told deputies that the information had not been known when Lord Mandelson had been appointed.
He told deputies that emails showed that “the depth and extent of Lord Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein are materially different from those known at the time of his appointment”.
He added: “In particular, Lord Mandelson’s suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s first condemnation was unjustified and should be disputed is new information.
“And in the light of this, and aware, as we are all, victims of the appalling crimes of Epstein, he was withdrawn as an ambassador with immediate effect.”
The email cache obtained by Bloomberg showed that the day before Epstein’s publication in prison in June 2008, Lord Mandelson told him “your friends stay with you and love you”.
He said, “You must be incredibly resilient, fight for early release and philosophical on this subject as much as you can.
“All has been years of torture and now you have to show the world how much you are and what strong.”
Lord Mandelson’s position was increasingly precarious after the release of emails aroused public criticism from members of the government.
Health Secretary Wes Street said he was “completely disgusted” by messages, while Interior Bureau Minister Mike Tapp said that they are really disturbing and disgusting. “
But the moment of his dismissal causes diplomatic head evil before the visit of the state of Donald Trump next week, the American president facing questions about his own links with Epstein.
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