The leaked emails included passages in which Lord Mandelson told Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.<\/p>\n
He is also reported to have told Epstein “I think the world of you” the day before the disgraced financier began his sentence for soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters, Sir Keir said the messages showed Lord Mandelson “was not only questioning but wanting to challenge the conviction of Epstein at the time”. <\/p>\n
Lord Mandelson’s emails “cut across the whole approach that I’ve taken on violence against women and girls for many years and this government’s”, he added.<\/p>\n
The emails showed “the nature and extent of the relationship that Peter Mandelson had with Epstein was far different to what I had understood to be the position when I appointed him.”<\/p>\n
Sir Keir added he was “not at all” satisfied with Lord Mandelson’s responses to questions “put to him by government officials”.<\/p>\n
The prime minister has faced questions about his judgment in appointing the peer, whose friendship with Epstein was public knowledge, in the first place.<\/p>\n