The BBC has confirmed that former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair met with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in Downing Street in 2002, following direct lobbying by Lord Peter Mandelson. The revelation comes from newly released National Archives documents and emails obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
A Meeting Arranged at Mandelson’s Request
According to a memo dated May 14, 2002, senior civil servant Matthew Rycroft briefed then–Prime Minister Blair about Epstein ahead of a scheduled 5:00 PM meeting. The briefing described Epstein as a “financial adviser to the super-rich” and a “friend of Bill Clinton and Peter Mandelson.”
Emails released alongside the memo reveal that Lord Mandelson personally lobbied Blair’s chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, to arrange the meeting. In one message, dated May 7, 2002, Mandelson wrote that former U.S. President Bill Clinton had wanted to introduce Epstein to Blair, describing Epstein as “young and vibrant,” “an active scientific catalyst,” and notably, “safe.”
At the time, Mandelson was a backbench MP, having resigned from Cabinet twice but remaining an influential figure in Labour Party circles.
Blair’s Response and Official Statement
A spokesperson for Blair said he met Epstein only once and that the encounter lasted “less than 30 minutes,” focusing on “US and UK politics.” The spokesperson emphasized the meeting occurred “long before Epstein’s crimes were known” and said Blair “never met or engaged with him subsequently.”
The released documents also show handwritten notes on the printed email chain, one of which appears to read: “Do you want to do this? … I know very little more about him.”
Epstein’s Connections and Later Crimes
At the time of the meeting, Epstein was a prominent financier who moved in elite political and social circles, including with Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, and Peter Mandelson. Six years later, in 2008, he was convicted in Florida for soliciting prostitution from a minor, and in 2019, he died while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The memo, marked “Restricted,” also described Epstein as “very rich and close to the Duke of York,” noting that Clinton wanted Blair to meet him for discussions on “science and international economic and monetary trends.”
Release of the Documents
The documents were initially withheld by government officials due to concerns about potential damage to UK–US relations. They were made public only after Lord Mandelson’s dismissal as U.S. ambassador, following renewed scrutiny of his longstanding friendship with Epstein.
The National Archives also released a related document titled “Trade and Industry Meetings with Industry”, which listed Epstein’s meeting with Blair as part of the Prime Minister’s schedule for that day.
Broader Context
This disclosure adds to the growing body of evidence linking Epstein to numerous world leaders and high-profile figures. While there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Blair, the revelations highlight how deeply Epstein had embedded himself in political and financial networks across both sides of the Atlantic.
