UK PM Starmer Apologizes for Appointing Embattled Ex-Minister to US Ambassador Role Amid Epstein Scandal.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a formal apology to the victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, citing his regret over appointing disgraced former minister Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
Starmer admitted that he had not been aware of the full extent of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein at the time of his appointment last February, but acknowledged that this lack of knowledge was "inexcusable". The apology came after fresh allegations emerged about Mandelson's ties to Epstein and a trove of leaked emails revealed a close friendship between the two men, including private photos.
The UK leader expressed regret over naming Mandelson as ambassador, stating that if he had known then what he knows now, Mandelson would never have been anywhere near government. Starmer also criticized Mandelson for failing to reveal the full extent of his relationship with Epstein during the vetting process for the US role last year.
Mandelson, 72, was sacked by Starmer in September after only seven months as ambassador following an earlier release of files about Epstein's connections to prominent figures. He has since resigned from the House of Lords amid mounting pressure over his past dealings with Epstein.
The UK government has agreed to submit all documents related to Mandelson's appointment to parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee, following growing criticism from opposition parties and some Labour MPs. The Metropolitan Police have also launched an investigation into Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Emails released as part of a US Justice Department trove revealed that Mandelson had forwarded confidential information to Epstein intended for then Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2009 and had received $75,000 in payments from accounts linked to the British politician between 2003 and 2004.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a formal apology to the victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, citing his regret over appointing disgraced former minister Peter Mandelson as US ambassador.
Starmer admitted that he had not been aware of the full extent of Mandelson's relationship with Epstein at the time of his appointment last February, but acknowledged that this lack of knowledge was "inexcusable". The apology came after fresh allegations emerged about Mandelson's ties to Epstein and a trove of leaked emails revealed a close friendship between the two men, including private photos.
The UK leader expressed regret over naming Mandelson as ambassador, stating that if he had known then what he knows now, Mandelson would never have been anywhere near government. Starmer also criticized Mandelson for failing to reveal the full extent of his relationship with Epstein during the vetting process for the US role last year.
Mandelson, 72, was sacked by Starmer in September after only seven months as ambassador following an earlier release of files about Epstein's connections to prominent figures. He has since resigned from the House of Lords amid mounting pressure over his past dealings with Epstein.
The UK government has agreed to submit all documents related to Mandelson's appointment to parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee, following growing criticism from opposition parties and some Labour MPs. The Metropolitan Police have also launched an investigation into Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Emails released as part of a US Justice Department trove revealed that Mandelson had forwarded confidential information to Epstein intended for then Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2009 and had received $75,000 in payments from accounts linked to the British politician between 2003 and 2004.
I'm not surprised by Starmer's apology, he seems like a pretty decent guy who wants to do the right thing. It's just sad that Mandelson thought it was okay to associate with someone as toxic as Epstein in the first place 
. At least Starmer is taking responsibility for his actions and apologizing to the victims. 
I think this is a good opportunity for him to show that he's committed to transparency and accountability 
. It's not too late for Mandelson to own up to his mistakes and make amends, but it's better late than never 
. Let's hope this clears the air and Starmer can move forward with more positive actions 
. It's not like this is some surprise revelation. Still, kudos to Starmer for owning up to his mistakes and taking responsibility for the vetting process 
.
. And now, he's facing an investigation on suspicion of misconduct in public office...this whole thing feels like a major PR mess 
. The fact that emails have come to light showing Mandelson's close friendship with Epstein and even forwarding confidential info 
is pretty concerning.
. It's not just about apologies, it's about accountability and making sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again 
.
how could he be so clueless ?? it's not just a matter of not knowing the full extent of it it's like he was trying to cover up or something 
. Starmer's apology feels like a token gesture 
. I don't buy that Mandelson would have ever been appointed if he knew what he knows now 
. It's not just about Mandelson; it's about the integrity of the government and its ability to do due diligence 
.
I mean, it's not like they were choosing him for a beauty pageant... it's the ambassador to the US! 
still, at least he's taking responsibility and all that... 
it sounds like Mandelson just slid through with some fancy connections 
mandelson had some pretty shady dealings with epstein going on, from forwarding confidential info to receiving $$$ 
from accounts linked to brown. it's no wonder the met police are launching an investigation 
. I mean, it's about time someone took responsibility for that shady appointment. Mandelson was already a suspect with all those Epstein files coming out, but I guess no one knew the full extent of his friendship with Epstein 
. Apologizing now might be too little, too late for some, but at least Starmer is trying to make things right 
. He should be the one apologizing, not Starmer 
he must've been like "oh yeah, i know he's got issues, but he's super smart" meanwhile, epstein is rotting in prison. gotta give credit tho, starmer at least owns up to it now. shoulda seen it comin' when mandelson was sacking people left and right during his time as ambassador, like what was the rush lol anyway, hope these docs get released soon so we can see just how deep this scandal goes 
he was already under fire for his ties to epstein and now this just opens up even more questions... anyway, i think starmer is doing the right thing by apologizing and submitting all documents related to mandelson's appointment to parliament 
.
I don’t have all the answers, but I think we can all agree that transparency is key here 
. Anyway, gotta say, I hope Starmer's apology and the government's actions lead to some real change and accountability in the future 
and now mandelson is getting heat for his past dealings... guess you could say he's been 'ambassadoring' for epstein behind the scenes 
.