Tony Blair met with Jeffrey Epstein while he was prime minister
Sir Tony Blair met with Jeffrey Epstein in Downing Street during his prime ministry, following Lord Peter Mandelson’s lobbying efforts, new documents have emerged.
According to a memo seen by the BBC, the former prime minister was briefed on “super-rich” financial advisor Epstein by a senior civil servant ahead of a meeting scheduled for 5pm on May 14, 2002.
The meeting took place six years before Epstein pleaded guilty in June 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor.
A spokesman for Sir Tony said: “As far as he can remember, Mr Blair met him for less than 30 minutes in Downing Street in 2002 and discussed US and UK policies. He never met or spoke to him afterwards. This was of course well before his crimes were discovered and he was later convicted.”
Lord Mandelson pressed for the meeting because of documents released by the National Archives under a Freedom of Information request, according to emails seen by the BBC. The new details come weeks after he was dismissed as US ambassador after his friendship with the convicted pedophile was revealed.
In an email to Sir Tony’s private secretary Jonathan Powell, Lord Mandelson confirmed that Epstein was “a friend of mine” and that former US president Bill Clinton had hoped to introduce Epstein to the prime minister.
An email to Mr Powell, now the government’s national security adviser, said: “Remember when Clinton had TB? [Tony Blair] Did he say he wanted to introduce his traveling companion, Jeffrey Epstein, to tuberculosis?
“TB found this disappointing at the time – TB is in office for reasons (he says) that are unclear to him. I think TB would be interested in meeting Jeffrey, who is also my friend, as Jeffrey is an active scientific catalyst/entrepreneur as well as someone who has his finger on the pulse of many markets and currencies around the world.”
“He’s young and energetic. He’s safe (whatever that means) and Clinton is doing a lot of traveling with him right now.”
The email continues: “I told TB that Jeffrey would be in London next week and he said he wanted to meet him.
“I’ve learned from Jeffrey that he’s flexible – he can be here at any time to accommodate the diary starting on Tuesday – but he needs to be informed fairly quickly to reschedule accordingly. Can you let me know?”
Lord Mandelson was fired from his post as the UK’s ambassador to the US in September after emails emerged in which he told Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
He also reportedly told Epstein, “I think I’m thinking about you,” the day before the sex offender began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.
Speaking to reporters during a business visit to Mumbai this week, the prime minister hinted that Lord Mandelson would never get a government job again.
“The Government is not in its role in terms of future appointments,” Sir Keir said. “I suppose Peter is also on leave from the Lords anyway, so that the whipping issue doesn’t come up.”
