The message was written for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003. In it, Mandelson, now the UK’s ambassador to the US, described Epstein as “intelligent” and “sharp-witted,” someone who had suddenly “parachuted” into his life.
The existence of the letter was first reported in July by the Wall Street Journal. At the time, the paper detailed the contents of Mandelson’s birthday note.
Speaking to the BBC, a spokesperson for Mandelson said: “Lord Mandelson has long been clear that he very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein.”
Democrats in Congress released the “birthday book” after the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the documents last month. Alongside Mandelson’s letter, the book also contained a sketch of a woman’s body said to be signed by Donald Trump.
The White House strongly rejected the claim, stating that the president “did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it.”
The book was put together by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend and accomplice. She was convicted in 2021 for conspiring to traffic underage girls. The collection dates back to 2003, three years before accusations against Epstein became public.
When contacted again by the BBC, Mandelson’s spokesperson said that his links to Epstein “have been a matter of public record for some time.” They also pointed to earlier remarks Mandelson gave to the Financial Times, where he admitted: “I regret ever meeting him or being introduced to him by his partner Ghislaine Maxwell.”
A 2019 internal report by JP Morgan, later filed in a New York court, described Epstein as having “a particularly close relationship with Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and Lord Peter Mandelson, a senior member of the British government.”
In his birthday letter, Mandelson wrote that after Epstein came into his life, “I would spend many hours just waiting for him to turn up.” He added, “Often, no sooner were you used to having him around, you would suddenly be alone again, left with some ‘interesting’ friends to entertain instead.”
The note also included a picture of Mandelson with two women, their faces blurred. He went on to write: “But wherever he is in the world, he remains my best pal!”
A final photo showed Mandelson sitting with Epstein. It was followed by the closing line: “Happy Birthday, Jeffrey. We love you!”
Alongside the book, lawmakers also released Epstein’s personal address book and his will.
After the Wall Street Journal first reported the “birthday book,” Trump filed a lawsuit against the newspaper’s reporters, executives, and Rupert Murdoch, the owner of News Corp. He is seeking $10 billion in damages.
Epstein was first charged in Florida in 2006 for soliciting prostitution. He died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial.
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The release of these documents has reignited debate about the extent of Epstein’s network and the influential figures who remained close to him before his downfall. For many, it raises fresh questions about how powerful connections helped shield him for so long.
Critics argue that the “birthday book” is more than a collection of notes. They see it as a snapshot of how Epstein cultivated influence through friendships with high-profile names, leaving behind a trail of associations that continue to haunt politics and public life today.
