Epstein took compromising snap of Peter Mandelson in his underpants, ‘disgusted’ model reveals
This was the deeply humiliating photo that marked the downfall of former cabinet minister Peter Mandelson.
Labour’s so-called ‘Prince of Darkness’ appeared at home at pedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s palatial Paris mansion as he spoke to a young woman wearing a dressing gown over a pair of white Y-fronts.
Now the woman in this extraordinary photograph – a former Russian model who was one of Epstein’s many victims – has broken her silence in an exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday.
Mia, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, explained that this photo was secretly taken by Epstein while she was sitting behind his desk in a room in his large flat, which he knew as the ‘library’.
He believes the photo found in the Epstein Files is part of the pedophile financier’s secret attempt to collect photos of powerful guests in distress.
Mia thinks the photo was taken around 2010, when she was in her mid-20s. He remembered: ‘I don’t remember’ [Mandelson] wandering around like this often. She’s probably getting a massage.
‘There was a masseuse who came often. I think he was Lithuanian.
‘I honestly don’t remember what we were looking at. [it seems] “It’s like he’s showing me something, a tool.”
Mia, the woman in the photo whose name has been changed to protect her identity, explained that the photo was secretly taken by Epstein while she was sitting at his desk.
He believes the photo found in the Epstein Files is part of the pedophilia financier’s secret attempt to collect images of powerful guests in distress.
He said he was “99 percent sure” that Epstein took the photo because, given the layout of the room, the angle made it appear the photo was taken from his desk.
‘He liked taking provocative photos where people looked far from their best,’ he said.
‘The photo is disgusting. [Mandleson] She’s not the nicest person in the world anyway, and in her underwear… other than grimacing, [the picture] ‘It evokes no other emotion.’
Commenting on the appropriateness of Mandelson questioning her while standing in her underwear, she added: ‘This is complete nonsense.’
Mandelson, who was sacked as Britain’s ambassador to the US in September after his full links to Epstein were revealed and raised questions about Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to appoint him, denied any knowledge of the financier’s crimes ‘because of the lies he told me’.
The 72-year-old man was arrested last month on suspicion of abuse of public office.
Mia had been part of Epstein’s entourage for several years. He claimed that he housed her in one of his Manhattan apartments and controlled every aspect of her life.
She also met Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor when he visited Epstein in December 2010.
He described Mandelson as ‘hostile’, ‘surly’ and ‘very unwelcome’ and accused him of treating the young women in Epstein’s orbit – many of whom are now known to be victims – with disdain.
“Peter was like a freeloader, moving from place to place, staying on yachts, in Paris, in houses,” he told the MoS.
‘He just seemed like a high-profile guest and he was so important that he didn’t need to talk to us, the staff, or be polite.’
He described Mandelson’s attitude towards the women in Epstein’s homes as “arrogance” and added: “It was an underestimation of us.” ‘I don’t even remember if he knew my name.’
She recalls that on a later visit to New York, Mandelson became less distant towards Mia when Epstein ordered her to act as his personal client.
The MoS revealed earlier this month how Epstein arranged for the politician to receive a Botox injection during a taxpayer-funded visit to Manhattan in March 2010, while the financier was still under house arrest.
Epstein controlled every aspect of the lives of the young women who fell prey to his sex trafficking network.
At one point, he ordered Mia, who had received payment from a victims’ fund, to cut her hair and told her ‘you’re too old to have long hair’.
‘He controlled our clothes, our hair, our teeth, our sports, our exercise, everything,’ he said.
‘Nobody had health insurance. If you needed to see a doctor, you had to get permission from them and they sent you to their doctor.’
When he visited Paris, Epstein was still on New York time and going to bed late. He expected the girls in his entourage to act according to his instructions at all times.
‘So maybe that photo [with Mandelson] “It was taken in the morning before I had time to get dressed,” he said.
Mia described how Epstein was a superior manipulator. ‘He seems to see right through you, understand your vulnerability and become the only person who can solve your problem,’ he said.
‘Then slowly, step by step, he would crush you. It drew people into this network. Even very powerful people were caught.’
Mandelson did not respond to a request for comment last night.
