EX-PRIME Minister Sir Tony Blair met Jeffrey Epstein while he was in office after lobbying from Lord Mandelson, it is claimed.
The former Labour leader welcomed the late paedophile financier to Downing Street in 2002 – six years before he pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor.
2023 Max Mumby/IndigoSir Tony Blair met Jeffrey Epstein while he was PM in 2002[/caption]
GettyPaedo financier Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor six years later[/caption]
PAThe meeting was reportedly brokered by Lord Peter Mandelson (pictured with Blair in 2001)[/caption]
The meeting was brokered by peer Peter Mandelson, who was sacked last month as US ambassador by current PM Sir Keir Starmer after it emerged he had coached “best pal” Epstein through his sex allegations.
Lord Mandelson wrote in a leaked email: “Your friends stay with you and love you.”
In a memo seen by the BBC, dated May 14 2002, senior civil servant Matthew Rycroft briefed Blair about “super rich” Epstein ahead of a meeting scheduled for 5pm that day.
A spokesperson for Blair told the broadcaster: “As far as he can remember, Mr Blair met with him for less than 30 minutes in Downing Street in 2002, and discussed US and UK politics. He never met or engaged with him subsequently.”
They added: “This was, of course, long before his crimes were known of and his subsequent conviction.”
Emails reportedly show Lord Mandelson pushing for the meeting, telling the then-PM’s chief of staff Jonathan Powell that Epstein was “a friend of mine”.
The peer is also said to have told Blair ex-US President Bill Clinton hoped to introduce him to Epstein.
The document was released by the National Archives under a Freedom of Information request following Lord Mandelson’s sacking.
The release of it and several related documents was previously blocked by government officials due to fears it would impact the country’s relations with the US.
Lord Mandelson told Powell – the current UK government’s national security adviser – Epstein is “safe”.
He said in the email: “Do you remember when Clinton saw TB [Tony Blair] he said he wanted to introduce his travelling friend, Jeffrey Epstein, to TB?”
He went on to say such a meeting was previously “frustrated” for reasons Blair “was unclear about”.
Lord Mandelson described Epstein as “someone who has his finger on the pulse of many worldwide markets and currencies”, adding Clinton was doing “a lot of travelling with him”.
He added the financier was in London that week and “flexible” about when he could attend Downing Street.
The BBC reports there are three separate handwritten notes on the email print-out, much of which is illegible, though one questions Blair on whether he wants to go ahead with the meeting, adding: “I know very little more about him.”
At the time Lord Mandelson was a backbench MP, having resigned twice from Cabinet roles.
Clinton has previously admitted to being a former associate of Epstein but denies any knowledge of his crimes.
The paedo billionaire was convicted in Florida for soliciting prostitution from a person under 18 in 2008 and died in prison in New York in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Rycroft’s memo, marked R, apparently meaning restricted, confirmed Epstein would be meeting Blair at 5pm and described him as “very rich and close” to Prince Andrew, as well as being “a friend” of Clinton and Lord Mandelson.
Rycroft, who was permanent secretary at the Home Office until March this year, told Blair it was felt the meeting would be worthwhile in order to discuss science and “international economic and monetary trends“.
AFPEpstein died in prison in New York while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges[/caption]
PALord Mandelson was sacked as US ambassador by current PM Sir Keir Starmer last month[/caption]
AFPLord Mandelson in the Oval Office with US President Donald Trump[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
