Quick Read
- New documents from January 2026 reveal Jeffrey Epstein made financial transfers to Peter Mandelson’s husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva.
- Mandelson reportedly advised Epstein to frame a £10,000 transfer as a “loan” to avoid tax, intended for school fees.
- Epstein’s “birthday book” contains photos of Mandelson in a bathrobe and shirtless, with notes calling Epstein his “best pal.”
- Mandelson was removed as UK Ambassador to the US in September 2025 and issued an “unequivocal apology” to Epstein’s victims in January 2026.
- Several UK institutions have moved to strip Mandelson of civic honours following the revelations.
LONDON (Azat TV) – New documents unsealed in January 2026 have exposed financial transfers from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to Reinaldo Avila da Silva, the husband of former Labour peer Peter Mandelson, intensifying scrutiny over their long-denied intimate relationship. These revelations follow Mandelson’s dramatic removal as UK Ambassador to the US in September 2025 and have prompted a fresh wave of public and political condemnation.
The latest document dump from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has added a transactional layer to the already controversial association between Mandelson and Epstein. According to The Guardian, emails show Epstein sent thousands of pounds in bank transfers to Mandelson’s husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, shortly after Epstein’s 2009 release from prison. One email reportedly shows Mandelson advising Epstein to frame a £10,000 transfer as a “loan” to avoid tax filings, with the money allegedly intended to cover school fees for da Silva. These financial links contradict Mandelson’s claims that he distanced himself from Epstein after his 2008 conviction, as files suggest they remained in contact as late as November 2016, with Epstein emailing Mandelson to congratulate him on his 63rd birthday.
Intimate Images and Personal Notes Surface
Beyond the financial dealings, the January 2026 unsealing of more than 3 million pages of Epstein’s private records has also brought to light a highly personal dimension of their connection. Much of the recent visual controversy stems from a 238-page “birthday book” created by Ghislaine Maxwell for Epstein’s 50th birthday, which was released by the US House Oversight Committee. This collection contains personal tributes and photographs from Epstein’s inner circle.
Among the most widely circulated images is one showing Mandelson in a bathrobe, laughing and in deep conversation with Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson’s handwritten note next to this photo reportedly refers to Epstein as his “best pal.” Another image depicts Mandelson shirtless, looking out of a window, with an accompanying message in the birthday book musing about “waiting for [Epstein] to turn up.” A third photograph shows Mandelson at a dining table with two women whose faces are obscured, with Mandelson’s caption referring to Epstein leaving him with “interesting” friends to entertain in his absence.
Political Fallout and Diplomatic Career Collapse
The cumulative weight of these disclosures has had significant political repercussions for Mandelson. In September 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer withdrew Mandelson as US Ambassador with immediate effect after initial emails surfaced showing Mandelson urged Epstein to “fight for early release” during his 2008 sentence. Following the latest DOJ dump in January 2026, Mandelson issued an unequivocal apology to Epstein’s victims, admitting he was “wrong to believe Epstein” and “wrong to continue the association.”
The fallout has extended beyond his diplomatic career, with several UK institutions and towns, including Hartlepool, moving to strip Mandelson of civic honours and honorary titles. These actions reflect public and political condemnation of the “sickening” nature of the correspondence and association.
Scrutiny Over Vetting Processes Intensifies
The “Peter Mandelson Epstein files” are now being used by both UK and US politicians to question the vetting processes for high-level government appointees. Critics argue that Mandelson’s proximity to Epstein—evidenced by the “best pal” letters, informal photos, and now the financial transfers—posed a significant security and reputational risk that was overlooked for decades. The ongoing revelations underscore concerns about the thoroughness of background checks for individuals in sensitive public roles.
The sustained emergence of new details, particularly financial ones, transforms the Mandelson-Epstein connection from a personal judgment error into a systemic concern regarding the integrity of public office and the thoroughness of vetting for diplomatic roles.