UK Politician Will Quit House Of Lords In Storm Over Epstein Ties | EUROtoday

LONDON (AP) — British politician Peter Mandelson is quitting the House of Lords as he faces new questions, and a possible police investigation, over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The Speaker of the House of Lords, Michael Forsyth, stated Mandelson has introduced he’ll retire from Parliament’s higher chamber efficient Wednesday.

The announcement got here because the British authorities ready laws to eject Mandelson from the Lords and take away the noble title, Lord Mandelson, that got here along with his lifetime membership in Parliament’s higher chamber.

The authorities additionally stated it had despatched a file of fabric to police who’re wanting into allegations that Mandelson handed delicate authorities info to the late intercourse offender.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer informed his Cabinet on Tuesday that he was “appalled” by the revelations in newly launched Epstein recordsdata, and was involved there are extra particulars nonetheless to emerge.

A trove of greater than 3 million pages of Epstein-related paperwork launched by the U.S. Justice Department has introduced excruciating revelations about 72-year-old Mandelson, who served in senior authorities roles beneath earlier Labour governments and was U.Ok. ambassador to Washington till Starmer fired him in September over his ties to Epstein.

The newly launched recordsdata comprise particulars about Mandelson’s contacts with the disgraced financier, together with emails passing on nuggets of political info, a few of which critics say could have damaged the legislation. Police say they’re reviewing reviews of misconduct “to determine if they meet the criminal threshold for investigation.”

Starmer spokesman Tom Wells stated that the federal government had despatched police its evaluation that the Mandelson-Epstein paperwork contained “likely market-sensitive information” concerning the 2008 international monetary disaster and its aftermath that shouldn’t have been shared exterior of presidency.

Among the revelations within the recordsdata:

— In 2003-2004, financial institution paperwork recommend Epstein despatched three funds totaling $75,000 to accounts linked to Mandelson or his accomplice Reinaldo Avila da Silva. Mandelson has stated that he doesn’t keep in mind receiving the cash and can examine whether or not the paperwork are genuine. But he resigned from the governing Labour Party on Sunday, saying he didn’t wish to trigger the social gathering “further embarrassment.”

— In 2008, Epstein averted federal prosecution by pleading responsible to state fees in Florida of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Emails and textual content messages present that Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein continued after the financier’s sentence.

— In 2009, Epstein despatched da Silva 10,000 kilos (about $13,650 at immediately’s charges) to pay for an osteopathy course. Mandelson informed The Times of London that “in retrospect, it was clearly a lapse in our collective judgment for Reinaldo to accept this offer.”

Also in 2009, Mandelson, then enterprise secretary within the U.Ok. authorities, seems to have informed Epstein he would foyer different members of the federal government to cut back a tax on bankers’ bonuses.

The similar yr, Mandelson despatched Epstein an inside authorities report discussing methods the U.Ok. might elevate cash after the 2008 international monetary disaster, together with by promoting off authorities belongings. Mandelson wrote: “Interesting note that’s gone to the PM.”

— In May 2010, Mandelson messaged Epstein that “sources tell me 500 b euro bailout” is nearly full. The message was dated hours earlier than day European governments introduced a 500 billion euro deal to shore up the one forex.

Starmer has ordered the civil service to conduct an “urgent” evaluation of all of Mandelson’s contacts with Epstein whereas he was in authorities.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated that Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein was “a betrayal on so many levels.”

“It is a betrayal of the victims of Jeffrey Epstein that he continued that association and that friendship for so long after his conviction,” Streeting informed the BBC. “It is a betrayal of not just one but two prime ministers” — Gordon Brown, the U.Ok. chief between 2007 and 2010, and Starmer.

Epstein died by suicide in a jail cell in 2019, whereas awaiting trial on U.S. federal fees accusing him of sexually abusing dozens of women.

An e-mail requesting touch upon the paperwork was despatched to Mandelson via the House of Lords.