Khaberni - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly apologized to the victims of American businessman Jeffrey Epstein, admitting his mistake in trusting Peter Mandelson's statements and appointing him as the Ambassador of Britain to the United States.
Starmer said that the extent of the relationship that Mandelson had with Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes, was not known at the time of the appointment, indicating that what was later discovered showed Mandelson "provided incorrect information" about the nature of that relationship, which led the government to dismiss him.
The Prime Minister's statements came amid increasing pressure within the Labour Party, where some MPs called for Starmer to step down to regain public trust. However, he clung to his position, expressing his understanding of the anger within the party and emphasizing his commitment to executing the mandate he received in the 2024 elections.
Starmer clarified that Mandelson's acquaintance with Epstein was media known, but the "depth of the connection" between them was not known, pointing out that Mandelson was directly asked about the details of his relationship with Epstein, including his stay with him after his conviction and whether he received any money or gifts, before it later became clear that his answers were inaccurate.
Apology to Epstein's Victims
During a government event, Starmer directly apologized to Epstein's victims, saying they had been severely traumatized and forced to relive those events repeatedly, adding that he regrets what they went through, the shortcomings of those in power, and his trust in Mandelson's statements that led to his appointment.
The Prime Minister confirmed that his government will not tolerate any attempt to bypass justice, and that it will strive to uncover the truth and ensure the integrity of public life, pointing at the same time to the necessity of reviewing security screening processes, after the screening process that preceded Mandelson's appointment failed to reveal the full picture.
This comes after Starmer called on Mandelson to testify before the U.S. Congress and resign from the House of Lords membership, following the publication of American documents showing he received financial payments from Epstein in the early 2000s, a case that has brought renewed focus to the widespread sexual exploitation network associated with Epstein, in which prominent international figures are implicated.
