Epstein kept me ‘separate’ from his sexual side because I’m gay, Mandelson tells BBC

Lord Mandelson said he never saw any girls at Jeffrey Epstein’s properties and refused to apologize to the late pedophile’s victims for maintaining his friendship with the American because he “had no knowledge of what (Epstein) was doing”.

In his first interview since being sacked as Britain’s ambassador to the US over his links to Epstein, he told the BBC he felt he was “separated” from the sexual side of the late financier’s life because he was gay.

He was fired after emails emerged showing supportive messages he sent to Epstein after the American was convicted of soliciting a minor for prostitution.

The former ambassador said he would have apologized if he had been “in any way complicit or guilty” but insisted that was never the case.

Epstein, a well-connected financier, died in a New York prison cell in 2019 awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. He was previously convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor for whom he was registered as a sex offender.

Asked on the BBC’s One’s Sunday program if she wanted to apologize to Epstein’s victims for maintaining a friendship after the first conviction, Laura Kuenssberg said: “I want to apologize to these women for a system that refused to hear their voices and failed to provide them with the protection they were entitled to expect.”

“This system gave him protection, not them.

“If I had known, if I had been complicit or guilty in any way, of course I would have apologized for that. But I wasn’t guilty, I had no knowledge of what he was doing.”

She continued: “I regret that powerless women, women who were not given the right to speak, were not given the protection they expected, and I will regret it until the day I die.”

During the interview, Lord Mandelson, whose tenure as ambassador lasted only a few months, was also asked about his views on US President Donald Trump’s ongoing comments about his country’s need to “own” Greenland.

He said he did not believe Trump would “go out to Greenland and take it by force”, adding: “He’s not going to do that. I don’t know, but I give my best opinion as someone who has observed him pretty closely. He’s not stupid.”

Asked about his long friendship with Epstein, which spanned decades, Lord Mandelson said he believed he was “separated from everything”. [Epstein] “He was doing the sexual side of his life because of his own sexuality”.

“Some people will probably think I’m a gay man… I couldn’t adjust to what was going on. I don’t really accept that.”

The government sacked Lord Mandelson as US ambassador after emails showed he had been in contact with and offered support to Epstein after his initial conviction.

Sources at No.10 said he was being “economical with the truth” before his appointment and that they were unaware of the “depth” of their relationship.

On Sunday Lord Mandelson said he understood why he was sacked.

“I was there too. So I understand why it happened that way.” [the prime minister] took the decision. But one thing I am very clear about is that I will not try to reopen this issue or re-litigate. I continue.”

In response, Downing Street said the emails showed the “depth and extent” of the relationship was “materially different” to what Lord Mandelson knew when he appointed him, particularly that “his suggestion that Jeffrey Epstein’s initial conviction was wrong and should be appealed is new information”.

“In light of this, and with consideration for the victims of Epstein’s crimes, he has withdrawn from his duties as ambassador, effective immediately.”