Lord Mandelson Urged To Assist Epstein Investigation

Lord Mandelson has a “moral obligation” to help any investigation into the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, a cabinet minister has said.

Housing secretary Steve Reed’s comments pile fresh pressure on the former Labour peer, who was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to Washington last September over his links to Epstein.

The intervention came after newly-released documents revealed Epstein wired thousands of pounds after Lord Mandelson’s husband asked him to pay for his osteopathy course fees.

Keir Starmer has already called on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor “should be prepared” to testify before the US Congress about his links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Appearing on Sky News on Sunday, Reed said: “Foremost in all of our thoughts should be the victims of these horrific crimes.

“If anybody has information or evidence that they can share that might help to understand what’s gone on and bring justice to those victims, then they should share it.

“Whether that is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, whether it’s Lord Mandelson or whether it’s anybody else, they have a moral obligation to share what they knew so that the victims can help find the justice that they have been denied for so long.”

Phillips then asked him: “So if evidence from Lord Mandelson could help to illuminate what has happened for the sake of the victims, you would say that is something that he should morally be required to do?”

The minister replied: “Well absolutely. The victims of any crime, leave alone crimes as horrendous as these, should do whatever they can to help the victims.”

Elsewhere in the newly-released Epstein documents, undated photographs of Lord Mandelson show him in a T-shirt and his pants, standing in what appears to be a hotel room.

Bank statements included in the release also show that he received $50,000 from Epstein in two separate $25,000 payments on June 24 and June 30, 2004.

Mandelson finally apologised to Epstein’s victims in January, having initially failed to do so.

In a statement issued on Friday, he said: “I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered.

“I was never culpable or complicit in his crimes. Like everyone else I learned the actual truth about him after his death.

“But his victims did know what he was doing, their voices were not heard and I am sorry I was amongst those who believed him over them.”