UK sacks Washington envoy Peter Mandelson after Epstein emails surface

Days before President Trump’s state visit, Britain abruptly fired its ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, after a trove of old emails showed him expressing support for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—including questioning the legitimacy of Epstein’s first conviction.

Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty told Parliament the government was withdrawing Mandelson “with immediate effect,” saying newly published emails revealed the “depth and extent” of his relationship with Epstein was “materially different” from what officials knew when he was appointed seven months ago. Downing Street later said the messages were “reprehensible.”

Mandelson will be replaced on an interim basis by his deputy, James Roscoe, a veteran diplomat and former communications chief to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The White House confirmed Trump’s visit will proceed as planned next week.

The messages—reported by The Sun and others—date back to 2006–2008, after Epstein was indicted and as he prepared to report to a Florida jail for soliciting sex from a minor. Mandelson wrote:

“I think the world of you and I feel hopeless and furious about what has happened.”

“Your friends stay with you and love you.”

According to the Foreign Office, newly revealed correspondence also included Mandelson’s suggestion that Epstein’s first conviction was “wrongful” and should be challenged—a red line for the government “mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes.”

Mandelson, before his sacking, told broadcasters he now views Epstein as a “charismatic criminal liar” and said, “I regret very much that I fell for his lies.” Allies say he disputes the claim he thought the conviction itself was wrongful—rather that he believed his friend and favored shorter sentencing. Photos have also resurfaced of Mandelson in a bathrobe at Epstein’s home, and his cheery inscription—“best pal”—in Epstein’s notorious birthday book.

The dismissal is a political headache for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who told MPs just a day earlier he had confidence in his envoy. It also follows the recent resignation of his deputy prime minister, prompting talk of an “attrition rate” in senior ranks. Opposition politicians called the Mandelson revelations “sickening,” and demanded answers on what No 10 knew and when.

Officials insist vetting was handled by government departments and that No 10 “was not involved” in security checks. They say the most damaging emails came from an old account to which Mandelson no longer had access. Still, critics note Mandelson’s long-known ties to Epstein made the appointment a calculated risk.

Across the Atlantic, the fallout is feeding into a broader push by lawmakers to release remaining Epstein files. Democrat Ro Khanna said Mandelson is proof “rich & powerful men who covered for Epstein must be held accountable,” as he and Republican Thomas Massie press for a House vote.

James Roscoe—currently deputy head of mission—takes over immediately and will shepherd next week’s state visit with King Charles III and high-level talks at Chequers. A permanent replacement will follow; names floated include seasoned heavyweights who can steady the embassy quickly.

Mandelson’s friendship with Epstein was no secret; what changed was the paper trail. Beyond warm words, one email exchange referenced Epstein’s legal defense orbit—including a nudge about a meeting with Jay Lefkowitz, a key Epstein lawyer then serving as a senior adviser in the George W. Bush administration. (Bush’s office says he “in no way knew this man and is in no way involved with this story.”)

Combined—with photos and the birthday book—the emails turned a long-shadowed association into hard evidence that made Mandelson’s position untenable, especially with a high-stakes US visit days away.

A storied operator once nicknamed the “Prince of Darkness” is out, the embassy has a caretaker boss, and Starmer faces pointed questions about judgment and vetting. The policy agenda—trade, Ukraine, and the choreography of Trump’s state visit—goes on. But the UK just swapped a seasoned power broker for a crisis-tested stand-in at the most sensitive post in the diplomatic service—and under the brightest possible lights.

With input from Politico, NPR, the New York Times, BBC, and Bloomberg.