British PM was warned of ‘reputational risk’ over Mandelson’s ties to Epstein, files show | CNN

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was warned that Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein posed a “general reputational risk” ahead of his appointment as Britain’s ambassador to the United States, according to a trove of files released Wednesday by the British government. In a due diligence report provided to Starmer by his vetting team in December 2024, officials listed what was publicly known about the veteran Labour politician’s ties to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Epstein. “After Epstein was first convicted of procuring an underage girl in 2008, their relationship continued across 2009-2011, beginning when Lord Mandelson was Business Minister and continuing after the end of the Labour government. Mandelson reportedly stayed in Epstein’s House while he was in jail in June 2009,” the report said. Starmer has faced fierce questioning about his judgment in appointing Mandelson as ambassador last year. Although Mandelson’s ties to Epstein had for years been a matter of the public record, files released by the US Department of Justice provided evidence about the depth and extent of his relationship to the financier, which continue