Peter Benjamin Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, is a British Labour Party politician who served as European Commissioner for Trade from 2004 to 2008 and held multiple cabinet positions under Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He was Member of Parliament for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004 and co-founded the lobbying firm Global Counsel in 2010. In the Epstein archive, Mandelson appears in 6,277 emails spanning from 2002 to 2016, making him one of the most frequently corresponding individuals in the network. The correspondence documents an extensive personal and professional relationship that continued after Epstein's 2008 conviction and included discussions of UK government policy, Mandelson's post-government career plans, political advice, and social arrangements.
Mandelson's relationship with Epstein became the subject of significant public scrutiny when he was appointed UK Ambassador to the United States in February 2025, leading to his dismissal in September 2025 after additional emails were published showing the depth of the relationship. In February 2026, UK police opened a criminal investigation into whether Mandelson leaked sensitive government information to Epstein.
Background#
Peter Mandelson was born on October 21, 1953, into Labour Party royalty — his grandfather was Herbert Morrison, a cabinet minister in Clement Attlee's 1945 government. He began working for Labour in the 1980s and served as the party's Director of Campaigns and Communications from 1985 to 1990, playing a key role in the party's modernization. Mandelson was a principal architect of "New Labour" alongside Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, helping propel Blair to victory in the 1997 general election.
His ministerial career was marked by turbulence. He served as Minister without Portfolio in 1997-1998, but resigned twice from Blair's cabinet — first in 1998 over an undisclosed home loan, and again in 2001 over allegations related to a passport application. After serving as EU Trade Commissioner from 2004 to 2008, Mandelson made a dramatic return to UK politics in 2008 when Gordon Brown, despite their historically strained relationship, appointed him First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, a position he held until Labour lost power in 2010.
In November 2010, Mandelson co-founded Global Counsel, a lobbying and advisory firm backed by WPP, with Benjamin Wegg-Prosser. The firm advised clients including Shell, Palantir, Alibaba, TikTok, and the UK private water industry. Mandelson sold his stake in the firm in 2025 following the Epstein email revelations. The Daily Mail and other outlets reported extensively on Mandelson's Epstein connections, with emails showing he called Epstein "my best pal" in a 50th birthday letter.
Correspondence with Epstein#
The archive documents sustained communication between Mandelson and Epstein from 2002 through at least 2016, with Mandelson sending 1,998 emails and receiving 4,256. The earliest substantive exchanges appear in 2002, when Mandelson was an MP, and continue through his tenure as EU Trade Commissioner (2004-2008), his return to the UK cabinet (2008-2010), and into his years at Global Counsel.
Early Relationship and Personal Dynamics (2002-2009)
The earliest archived emails reveal an intimate personal relationship mediated primarily through Ghislaine Maxwell, who appears to have introduced or facilitated the connection. In June 2002, Maxwell wrote playfully to Mandelson: "Pete, think of it this way, every time you do not hear from me it means that I am busy working to keep you to the style you have become accustomed to". When Mandelson wrote "I am feeling starved of contact", Maxwell replied with mock severity: "You spoiled Jeffrey's lunch. Pete I have warned you about that before. Behave or you will be punished like the bad boy you are".
In September 2002, following what appears to have been a personal crisis, Mandelson wrote to Maxwell: "Been back a few days from Asia and got your message on my mobile. I will phone. At the moment I feel so low that I can hardly communicate but I will pull myself together in due course. Hope you are well, both of you. Missing you". Maxwell responded: "Pete, what is wrong, I am here for you. Call me - Clinton sd he will do what you want at the conference", referencing Bill Clinton's involvement with Labour's Blackpool conference.
Maxwell wrote about travel arrangements: "JE and I will be in Europe coming w/Clinton that week of the 1st Oct and we would love to" see Mandelson. She also coordinated logistics: "I am flying my helicopter from PB to the Island arriving tom - I can call you when I land to discuss plans w/you + act. for the money", referring to travel from Palm Beach to Little St. James.
Political Advice During Government Service (2009-2010)
While serving as Business Secretary, Mandelson engaged with Epstein on sensitive UK political matters. In November 2009, during a period of internal Labour Party tension over Prime Minister Gordon Brown's leadership, Epstein provided strategic counsel. Mandelson wrote about his delicate position: "He will immed push panic button - highly sensitised to movement of my eyebrow", referring to Brown's sensitivity to any perceived disloyalty. Epstein advised: "tell gb you see the winds blowing and you are loyal ,first second and third... it actually is true, i don;t suggest you tell him to step down, i tell him you arc his friend and am frustrated as much as he". Mandelson confided he was "Talking to him tonight but he has said I sd facilitate not initiate".
Epstein also advised on Mandelson's public image. In April 2010, after a television appearance, Epstein wrote: "He needs to look the part. solid. authority, in a period of turmoil. dark suit. gravitas. Everyone wants change, embrace it. one corrects a course, considers step by step modifications. especially in a period of gragility".
Book Manuscript and Editorial Input (2010)
A particularly striking aspect of the correspondence involves Epstein's detailed editorial work on Mandelson's memoir "The Third Man," published in July 2010. Multiple emails from June 2010 show Epstein reviewing and critiquing draft chapters. On June 14, 2010, Epstein wrote: "i like it... I don't like This book is part candid autobiography and part history and describes what motivated me and made me tick as I played(PLAYED) 'third man' to two Prime Ministers", offering line-by-line edits. Mandelson responded: "so if I re-do the beginning, you like the rest?".
Epstein's assistant forwarded an invitation to Epstein for "the HarperCollins launch of The Third Man by Peter Mandelson", and another email noted "Peter Mandelson's will be sending you his book via Fed Ex to the Palm Beach house".
Post-Government Career Planning (2010)
As Mandelson's government service ended in May 2010, the correspondence shows Epstein involved in discussions about his future employment. In July 2010, Mandelson wrote: "I am getting very anxious about how I am going to earn my living from August 13!" after forwarding an email from JP Morgan's Jes Staley. Earlier, he had messaged: "Just had three hour dinner with Lee Kuan Yew. He is prepared to help me in China. Thinks that I need a 'perch', a bank. Thinks that prob a European better than US bank as I can leverage my EU contacts".
In July 2010, Mandelson reported meeting with the RBS CEO: "He says I should not worry too much about putting a little distance between govt and what I do next. I need to be sanitised!". He was also in discussions with Deutsche Bank: "Deutsche seeking initial response next week".
Global Counsel Era and Continued Contact (2010-2016)
After founding Global Counsel in November 2010, Mandelson continued corresponding with Epstein. In 2011, Epstein invited Mandelson to Paris: "steve.. I am in paris, would you and lawrence want to stop by,? peter mandelson will be here tonight at 8". In January 2012, Mandelson wrote: "Still looking forward to seeing me? I arrive at gare du nord at 5 30".
In 2013, Epstein's assistant invited prominent figures to a dinner party at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse: "Peter Mandelson and Ehud Barak are among the dinner guests", with invitations sent to Eric Schmidt and Walter Isaacson.
The final substantive exchanges in the archive come from November 2016, around the time of Donald Trump's election. On November 6, 2016, Mandelson praised Trump's political skill: "By way, as political practitioner, donald is phenomenal. The craft and tenacity are amazing". Epstein agreed it was "his to win" before Trump lost due to "skill and experience lacking unfortunately". In a revealing exchange, Epstein wrote: "in hindsight. you were right about staying away from andrew. I was right in your staying with rinaldo", referencing Prince Andrew and Reinaldo Avila Da Silva.
Connections#
Mandelson's correspondence intersects with numerous other individuals in Epstein's network. His primary connection was Ghislaine Maxwell, with whom he shared 65 emails. Maxwell served as an intermediary and social coordinator, arranging meetings and travel. The emails show a playful, familiar dynamic, with Maxwell writing in June 2002: "do not be disgusting" and "Suffice it to say that neither me not mine will lead to the third spill. You know what they say though. 3rd time lucky?", referencing Mandelson's two prior cabinet resignations.
Mandelson had 23 shared emails with Jes Staley, then CEO of J.P. Morgan's investment bank. In July 2010, as Mandelson was leaving government, he forwarded Staley's message to Epstein, noting "Nice guy, jes". Staley had written about Mandelson's book reception: "You should feel great about the book's reception. Amazing. If I can ever help on your next chapter, please let me know".
Mandelson appears in correspondence with several other Epstein associates including Boris Nikolic, Eva Dubin, Reinaldo Avila Da Silva, and Desmond Shum. In September 2010, Epstein suggested Mandelson "email boris, he just took off from d.c." regarding China connections. In June 2010, Epstein wrote to Mandelson copying Eva Dubin: "my god daughter celina would love a tour of oxford. on sat.. can you arrange or i will have ghislaine do it".
Document References#
Mandelson appears in numerous DOJ-released documents beyond the email correspondence. Several documents capture his involvement in business matters while still serving as Business Secretary, including correspondence with Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem of DP World regarding "London Gateway Port & Park" development in November 2009, where Epstein appears to have edited the letter before it was sent to Mandelson.
Documents show the exchange of Mandelson's contact information, with one contact card listing his mobile, home, and work details being forwarded through Epstein's network. When the numbers initially didn't appear, an email notes "sorry.. not sure wh the numbers didn't come up" followed by the mobile and home numbers.
A January 2012 email from Lesley Groff discusses travel arrangements: "I think [redacted] might be in Europe, I am going to see if I can get hold of her today. I dont want him to [x] be alone!", then adds "I will send Valdson an email about Eduardo and Peter Mandelson just so he has a heads up", referring to coordination with Epstein's Paris household manager regarding Mandelson's visit.
An April 2015 email from David Stern forwards an announcement to Epstein: "Lord Peter Mandelson has joined the advisory board of Sapinda Holding B.V.", with Stern's commentary "German fraud collecting billionaires".
Multiple documents from 2025-2026 consist of emails from an Epstein victim to UK authorities referencing Mandelson. These include correspondence with the UK Financial Conduct Authority demanding investigation of "Peter Mandelson, Adam Castellani, Jes Staley's colleague who worked at JP Morgan at the same time" and stating "I want a full investigation into Peter Mandelson". Another email from journalist Daniel Bates sent in February 2025 states: "the Daily Mail would be interested in speaking to you about what you remember about Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein... I think this is a really important story given Mandelson's role as UK ambassador to the US".
Visits to Epstein Properties#
The archive documents discussions of visits but contains limited specific evidence of documented visits to Epstein's properties:
Manhattan townhouse: Epstein hosted at least one documented dinner in April 2013 at his New York residence "Peter Mandelson and Ehud Barak are among the dinner guests", though the archive does not confirm whether Mandelson actually attended.
Paris apartment: Multiple references indicate Mandelson visited or planned to visit Epstein's Paris residence. In November 2011, Mandelson messaged "In paris just passing your apartment". In January 2012, he wrote "Still looking forward to seeing me? I arrive at gare du nord at 5 30", referring to an apparent planned visit. An email from Epstein's staff discusses coordinating "Eduardo and Peter Mandelson" for a Paris visit in January 2012. In April 2011, Epstein invited contacts to Paris, noting "peter mandelson will be here tonight at 8".
Palm Beach residence: No specific documented visits found in the archive, though Epstein's book was sent via FedEx to "the Palm Beach house" in July 2010.
Little St. James island: Maxwell referenced flying "my helicopter from PB to the Island" when discussing calling Mandelson in 2002, but no evidence of Mandelson visiting the island is documented in the archive.
New Mexico ranch: No visits documented in the archive.