Sudden Dismissal After Leaked Emails
The UK government sacked Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States after mounting criticism about his links to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Officials announced his dismissal early on Thursday morning in London, just hours after a new set of leaked emails surfaced.
The prime minister and the foreign secretary decided to remove him following urgent discussions at Downing Street. The newly uncovered messages showed a much deeper connection between Mandelson and Epstein than officials previously knew.
Officials announced the decision at 10.45 am in London, before dawn in Washington. Mandelson’s colleagues said the government did not show him the official statement before releasing it to the public.
Officials asked James Roscoe, who served as his deputy, to step in as acting ambassador until they choose a permanent replacement. They have not confirmed whether Mandelson will receive severance pay.
Revelations About Emails and Friendships
The emails that surfaced this week showed Mandelson expressing strong support for Epstein in June 2008. This was just before Epstein pleaded guilty to charges of soliciting prostitution from minors. In the correspondence, Mandelson told Epstein he thought highly of him and urged him to stay strong, even saying, “Your friends stay with you and love you.”
Other details highlighted that Mandelson had written in a birthday message book for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003, calling him his “best pal” and noting his circle of “interesting friends.”
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The situation worsened because officials already knew Mandelson had stayed at Epstein’s New York mansion in 2009 while Epstein was serving a prison sentence. Despite this, they still appointed him ambassador earlier this year.
According to government officials, the emails were not available during the original vetting process. They said these messages came from an old email account that had long been closed. Officials stressed that the vetting was followed correctly with the information available at the time.
Political Fallout and Questions Over Judgment
The decision to sack Mandelson has created a political storm in the UK. Critics had already called for his removal, describing the revelations as sickening. Pressure grew when it emerged that Mandelson had even suggested Epstein’s first conviction was wrongful and should be challenged.
The foreign office explained that this specific suggestion was new information. They said it was important to take into account the victims of Epstein’s crimes, and therefore the ambassador had to be withdrawn immediately.
This episode has also put serious focus on the prime minister’s decision-making and the government’s ability to vet senior officials. Questions are being asked about what was known, when it was known, and why Mandelson was appointed in such a sensitive diplomatic role despite his past connections.
The sacking comes just a week before a state visit to the UK by the US president, adding to the timing pressure on the government.
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Opposition figures have seized on the controversy, accusing the prime minister of failing to act quickly enough and of lacking decisiveness when dealing with scandals inside the government. They have pointed to previous examples where they believe the government delayed in taking tough action.
Mandelson’s departure leaves a key diplomatic post without a permanent head. This raises new concerns about stability in foreign representation. The episode has also raised eyebrows internationally, with media outlets quickly reporting the news across Washington and beyond.
Officials continue to face growing questions about how they made such a senior appointment despite warnings and why they acted decisively only after the leaks became public.+
