Former British Ambassador Quits Labour Party Amid Controversy
Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to Washington, has resigned from the Labour Party after newly released US documents revived scrutiny of his connection to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The 72-year-old was previously sacked as Britain’s ambassador to the United States last year due to his ties to Epstein.
According to documents released by the US Department of Justice and reported in British media, Mandelson allegedly received several payments from Epstein in the early 2000s, totaling $75,000 (55,000 pounds). Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he has no memory of the transfers and does not know whether the documents are authentic.
In a letter to Labour general secretary Hollie Ridley, Mandelson wrote: “Allegations which I believe to be false that he made financial payments to me 20 years ago, and of which I have no record or recollection, need investigating by me.” He added: “While doing this I do not wish to cause further embarrassment to the Labour Party and I am therefore stepping down from membership of the party.”