"The friendship between the two men has come back under the spotlight after Democrat members of the House oversight committee released Epstein's 50th birthday book, in which Mandelson called him my best pal, in a handwritten note. The US ambassador gave an interview to the Sun's Harry Cole on Tuesday saying that more very embarrassing details of his friendship with Epstein would come out but insisting he had never seen any wrongdoing."
"Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges in August 2019. He had previously been given an 18-month jail term in 2008 after pleading guilty to soliciting sex from girls as young as 14. After leaving prison, Mandelson continued to have dealings with Epstein, who referred to the politician as Petie. Starmer said the victims of Epstein were at the forefront of our minds and described him as a despicable criminal who committed the most heinous crimes and destroyed the lives of so many women and girls."
Keir Starmer was pressed over whether he knew that Peter Mandelson, as business secretary in 2010, had reportedly allowed Jeffrey Epstein to help broker the sale of a UK government-owned business to a US bank months after Epstein's release from jail following a child sex conviction. Starmer said full due process was gone through when the appointment was made and expressed confidence in Mandelson. Mandelson described Epstein as "my best pal" in a handwritten note and has acknowledged ongoing dealings after Epstein left prison. Mandelson has expressed deep regret for the association while insisting he never saw wrongdoing. Victims of Epstein were highlighted as a primary concern.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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