Peter Mandelson Makes First Public Appearance Since Epstein Controversy

Lord Peter Mandelson has reappeared in public for the first time since a recent scandal erupted concerning his long-standing association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The former British envoy to the United States is now under police scrutiny amid claims that he shared confidential market information with Epstein.

The embattled political figure was spotted outside his London residence on Saturday, cradling a large dog in his arms as he approached a car waiting at his doorstep. This marks his first public appearance since January 30, when a new batch of Epstein-related documents surfaced, shedding light on the former minister’s connections.

Among the troubling revelations is a photograph of Lord Mandelson clad only in his underwear at Epstein’s residence in Paris. Additionally, it has been alleged that he received a $75,000 payment from Epstein during his tenure as a Member of Parliament.

Lord Mandelson has not been seen in public since the publication of the latest tranche of Epstein files on January 30, which have led to a series of extraordinary revelations about the former cabinet minister.  

These include a newly uncovered picture of him standing in his underpants at Epstein’s Paris lair, as well as allegations he was sent $75,000 by the paedophile while he was an MP.

The sighting of Lord Mandelson today comes just hours after he received a letter from US politicians demanding he testifies before Congress. 

It requested he appears for an interview to help them ‘uncover the identities of Mr Epstein’s co-conspirators and enablers’ and pointed out that he had called the financier his ‘best pal’. 

Meanwhile, a Daily Mail investigation exclusively revealed today Mandelson took ‘ghost flights’ on a Russian oligarch’s private jet to a summit with Vladimir Putin when he was EU trade commissioner. 

Former UK ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson leaves through his front door carrying a large dog

The former British ambassador to the US was pictured outside his London home on Saturday lunchtime 

Peter Mandelson with Jeffrey Epstein in one of the recently released batch of photographs

The sighting comes just hours after he received a letter formally requesting he appears for an interview to help them ‘uncover the identities of Mr Epstein’s co-conspirators and enablers’

He accepted luxury flights aboard a Gulfstream jet controlled by one of the Kremlin strongman’s favourite tycoons – aluminium billionaire Oleg Deripaska.

The EU subsequently slashed aluminium tariffs – to the delight of Mr Deripaska, who became one of the world’s ten richest men. The European Commission previously insisted there was ‘no political interference’ from Lord Mandelson in this decision. 

The revelations cap a torrid fortnight for Lord Mandelson, whose links with Epstein have led to calls for Sir Keir Starmer to stand down as Prime Minister.

Critics have questioned the PM’s judgment in appointing the peer as US ambassador, which is considered the most prestigious posting in British diplomacy.

The letter to Lord Mandelson, signed by representatives Robert Garcia and Suhas Subramanyam, said: ‘While you no longer serve as British Ambassador to the United States and have stepped down from the House of Lords, it is clear that you possessed extensive social and business ties to Jeffrey Epstein and hold critical information pertaining to our investigation of Epstein’s operations.

‘Given the appalling allegations regarding Epstein’s conduct, we request that you make yourself available for a transcribed interview with Committee staff regarding the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators.’

It added: ‘Numerous pieces of evidence have come to light demonstrating your close ties to Jeffrey Epstein over the span of multiple years. 

Pictured: Supplies are brought to Peter Mandelson’s house on Saturday 

An image shows the letter to Lord Mandelson asking him to testify in front of Congress

Groceries are delivered to the residence of Lord Mandelson in London 

‘For example, in 2003, you authored a handwritten note that was included in Epstein’s 50th Birthday Book, referring to Epstein as your “best pal” and praising him as “an intelligent, sharp-witted man”.

‘In bank records obtained by the Committee, Epstein transferred sizable sums of money to you, including payments between 2003 and 2004 totaling more than $75,000.’

Last week, Scotland Yard launched a probe into allegations Mandelson passed confidential British government information to financier Epstein.

Officers raided both his £12million London house and rented farmhouse in Wiltshire and were seen fetching cardboard boxes from their cars to collect evidence. 

Now the Daily Mail can reveal shocking details of the private jet flights an ‘agitated’ Mandelson took on November 25, 2004, to a crucial trade summit in The Hague, where he met Putin.

The EU has confirmed he did not declare the flights, as he should have done. 

Peter Mandelson accepted luxury flights aboard a Gulfstream jet controlled by one of the Kremlin strongman’s favourite tycoons – aluminium billionaire Oleg Deripaska

The Gulfstream IV that took Mandelson to the Netherlands in 2004 

They were from Brussels to Luton, and then Luton to Rotterdam. 

The Daily Mail has spoken to a member of the flight crew who said Mandelson was ‘quite ratty’ because he wanted to get there faster.

Around that time, Mandelson enjoyed cosy relations with some of Putin’s inner circle. 

In 2005, he had a private, unofficial and undeclared dinner with the Russian finance minister, arranged by Mr Deripaska, and flew 2,000 miles to Siberia where he stayed at the aluminium oligarch’s dacha before being flogged in a traditional Russian ‘banya’ or sauna.

Last night Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch demanded the ‘disturbing new revelations’ be investigated, while shadow minister Alicia Kearns said Mandelson ‘stinks of a man who holds the British people in complete contempt’.

Mrs Badenoch said: ‘As Keir Starmer flies to the Munich Security Conference to lecture us about the Russian threat, these disturbing new revelations reinforce the recklessness of his decision to hand Britain’s most vital security relationship to Peter Mandelson, a man now facing serious questions over his dealings with Kremlin-linked oligarchs. 

‘The intelligence and security committee must be provided with all relevant material relating to Mandelson’s time as EU trade commissioner.’

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and one of the Kremlin strongman’s favourite tycoon Oleg Deripaska (right) at Sochi in 2008

Peter Mandelson (second from left) at The Hague in the Netherlands with Putin and EU Commission president José Manuel Barroso

Ms Kearns, shadow home affairs minister, said: ‘Funny how after a few flights on an aluminium magnate’s private jet, suddenly tariffs melt faster than scrap in a smelter. First Epstein, then the Chinese Communist Party, now Putin – Mandelson’s black book knows no limits.

‘Mandelson stinks of a man who holds the British people in complete contempt. 

‘He thought he’d got away with giving out confidential government information to his friends, he thought he’d got away with simpering to a paedophile, and he thought he’d get away with betraying the EU to Putin’s pet oligarch until the Mail’s revelations today.

‘There’s a movie yet to be made of all of this: Licence To Shill.’

Former prime minister Gordon Brown has said Mandelson’s email contacts with Epstein could constitute a ‘crime’.

When the Daily Mail put the latest revelations to Mandelson, he said he could ‘not recall’ travel arrangements from so long ago but they would have ‘been made by his office at the Commission’.