Lord Peter Mandelson has issued a personal apology to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, expressing regret for maintaining a friendship with the notorious sex offender. This apology follows recent criticism faced by the former US Ambassador after his correspondence with Epstein was exposed in September.
In an interview, the Labour peer was asked if he would apologize for his association with the convicted predator. Mandelson’s initial apology was limited to expressing regret to the women for a system that failed to protect them and ignored their voices.
Following backlash, Mandelson released a statement to BBC Newsnight, acknowledging his error in believing Epstein’s lies and continuing their association post-conviction. He offered an unequivocal apology to the victims, recognizing his mistake in not siding with them sooner.
Some Cabinet ministers and peers, including Baroness Kennedy, found it “shocking” that Mandelson did not apologize earlier. Kennedy expressed relief that he finally acknowledged his lack of knowledge and the need to apologize to the women who suffered due to Epstein.
Mandelson admitted to believing Epstein’s claims of innocence even after his 2008 conviction. He described his previous messages to Epstein as embarrassing and acknowledged the need to move forward without seeking to revisit the past decision to dismiss him.
The former Ambassador’s decision to issue a direct apology to Epstein’s victims and acknowledge his mistake in trusting the predator’s innocence signals a shift in his stance on the matter.