Peter Mandelson Apologizes to Epstein Victims Following Dismissal

Peter Mandelson, Britain's former US ambassador, has issued an apology to the victims of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while stating he would not apologize for his personal actions regarding his ties to Epstein. Mandelson was dismissed from his role in September last year after emails revealed a closer relationship with Epstein than previously acknowledged, including referring to Epstein as 'my best pal' and advising him on seeking early jail release. ## Key Statements * Mandelson stated to the BBC: 'I want to apologise to those women for a system that refused to hear their voices and did not give them the protection they were entitled to expect.' * He asserted that he would only apologize for his own ties if he had been aware of Epstein's actions or had been complicit. * Mandelson said: 'I was not culpable, I was not knowledgeable of what he was doing.' * He added that he believed Epstein's and his lawyer's claims that he had been 'falsely criminalised' in his interactions with young women. ## Background The UK government commented at the time of Mandelson's dismissal that the extent of his ties to Epstein appeared 'materially different' from what was understood during his appointment. Christian Turner has since been named as the new UK ambassador to the US. Mandelson also indicated he believed that, as a gay man within Epstein's circle, he was 'kept separate from what he was doing in the sexual side of his life.'