Sacked UK ambassador Mandelson has ‘no recollection of US$75,000 payments from Epstein’

Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the United States, has stated that he does not recall receiving payments totaling US$75,000 from Jeffrey Epstein, a financier with a criminal background. Mandelson was dismissed from his ambassadorial position last year due to his connections with Epstein. Recent bank statements released by the US government indicate that Mandelson was involved in several transactions related to Epstein, including a payment of US$25,000 to the account of Reinaldo Avila da Silva. In light of the new revelations regarding Mandelson's ties to Epstein, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for his removal from the House of Lords, stating that Mandelson has "let his country down." Starmer's comments come as UK police have announced a review of misconduct claims linked to Mandelson following the release of the bank statements. The Prime Minister's demand reflects the growing scrutiny of Mandelson's past associations and the implications for his political career. Mandelson has also resigned from the Labour Party amid the ongoing scandal. His departure from the party marks a significant shift for a prominent figure who has been associated with Labour since the 1997-2007 government led by Tony Blair. The situation continues to develop as authorities investigate the potential misconduct related to his public office tenure.