Former US ambassador Peter Mandelson pictured in the Epstein Files standing in his underpants in paedophile financier's home
An extraordinary photograph emerged of what appears to be Peter Mandelson standing in his underpants in one of the homes of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The photograph, which has been released as part of the Epstein files, apparently shows Lord Mandelson, the UK's former ambassador to the US, talking to a woman who is wearing a white bath robe.
A source close to Lord Mandelson said that the peer had no recollection of the photograph being taken and had no idea where it was taken or who had taken it.
Wearing a dark T-shirt and white Y-fronts, Lord Mandelson - who was fired as the UK's ambassador to the US last September when the depth of his links to Epstein became public - appears to casually chat to the young woman.
The former Labour Cabinet minister points to a computer tablet inside what appears to be a room inside Epstein's New York mansion.
New emails released on Friday as part of three million documents related to the child sex offender show Epstein sent £10,000 to Mandelson's Brazilian husband Reinaldo Avila da Silva to pay for an osteopathy course.
Da Silva emailed Epstein on September 7, 2009 - two months after the paedophile was released from prison after serving 12 months of an 18-month sentence on child sex offences - and asked for money.
At the time, Mandelson was business secretary and in a relationship with Da Silva. The pair married in 2023.
The photograph, which has been released as part of the Epstein files, apparently shows Lord Mandelson, the UK's former ambassador to the US, talking to a woman who is wearing a white bath robe
A source close to Lord Mandelson said that the peer (pictured) had no recollection of the photograph being taken and had no idea where it was taken or who had taken it (file image)
Da Silva wrote: 'I sent you a couple of emails last week regarding my osteo course expenses incl fee, anatomical models, laptop if you can help me with this. I hope you received them.
'I just managed to speak to the fees office at the osteoporosis school and confirmed that my annual fee is of £3225. They accept bank transfer and the details are as follows.'
Epstein immediately responded saying: 'I will wire your loan amount immediately.'
Mandelson emailed Epstein saying: 'Remind him that to avoid a gift-tax filing it must be a loan.'
Da Silva thanked Epstein days later (Sept 17) writing: 'Thank you for the money which arrived in my account this morning.'
In April 2010, da Silva again shared his bank details with Epstein who forwarded the email to his accountant with the instruction: 'Send 13k dollars.'
In another email Epstein wrote: 'Send 2k per month to Reinaldo.'
In July 2009 - while he was still serving out his prison term in a day release programme - Epstein wrote to Mandelson: 'You didn't call me. I spent an hour with Rinaldo…(sic)'
Mandelson has repeatedly apologised for his friendship with the paedophile and has been on a leave of absence from the House of Lords (file image)
An apologetic Mandelson responded: 'I was immersed in Afghanistan…thanks for talking to Reinaldo. It did him (therefore me) a lot of good. You now see the problems. I cannot talk to him about these things at all. He won't listen. I am doing Sunday media then will call. Thanks again xxx'
Mandelson's friendship with Epstein started around 2002 and continued until 2011.
During that time Mandelson served as Cabinet minister in both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown's governments.
The former ambassador was sacked last September after a 2003 'birthday book' for Epstein contained a message from Mandelson calling the pervert 'my best pal'.
Mandelson told Epstein 'I think the world of you' and advised him to 'fight for early release' from his jail term.
Flight records show Mandelson flew on Epstein's private jet, dubbed the 'Lolita Express', and stayed at his homes in New York, Palm Beach and on his private Caribbean island.
Previously published pictures showed Mandelson in a bathrobe and another wearing swimming trunks.
Mandelson has repeatedly apologised for his friendship with the paedophile and has been on a leave of absence from the House of Lords.
Critics have said he should be stripped of his peerage and expelled from the Labour Party.
On Friday he released a statement saying: 'I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards.
'I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered. I was never culpable or complicit in his crimes. Like everyone else I learned the actual truth about him after his death.'
Epstein committed suicide in jail in 2019.
