Ex-UK Minister Offered to Help Epstein Secure Russian Visa, Emails Reveal

 

Former British minister Peter Mandelson offered to assist disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein in obtaining a Russian visa, according to emails contained in newly released US government documents, the BBC has reported.

The revelation is part of a fresh tranche of files released by the US Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The disclosures have intensified scrutiny of Mandelson’s past relationship with Epstein and recently prompted his resignation from the Labour Party and the House of Lords.

Emails from November 2010 show Epstein seeking help to travel to Moscow, although the purpose of the trip remains unclear. Correspondence cited in the report suggests Epstein intended to meet women during the visit.

In an email dated November 9, 2010, Epstein contacted Jean-Luc Brunel, a close associate and modelling agent, informing him of his plans to travel to Moscow the following week. Brunel, who was later investigated for trafficking minors for sexual exploitation and died by suicide in 2022, appeared to respond by saying: “I am getting my visa.”

Further emails from the same day show Epstein asking Mandelson—who had left government six months earlier—for assistance in securing a Russian visa. Writing from France, Epstein said it was a bank holiday in Paris and asked if Mandelson had “any ideas” on how he could obtain one.

Mandelson replied several hours later, indicating a willingness to help. The following day, he sent another message saying that an associate of his was “helping on visas.”

On the same day he contacted Mandelson, Epstein also emailed a woman in Russia asking if there was any “news,” according to the documents. Other emails in the release suggest that Mandelson later visited Epstein in Paris.

Parliamentary Panel Vows Transparency

Speaking on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, Kevan Jones, chairman of the UK Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), said the committee would not shy away from publishing material that could prove embarrassing to the government.

The ISC is examining Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador to the United States in December 2024, as well as the extent of his relationship with Epstein. Jones said there must be “maximum transparency” over the vetting process and what ministers knew about Mandelson’s links to Epstein at the time of his appointment.

He added that the committee could publish documents even if they affected international relations, provided national security was not compromised.

“We’ve had disputes in the past where things have potentially been embarrassing to governments, but we’ve put them in because it doesn’t jeopardise national security,” Jones said.

He also criticised the handling of the fallout from the document release, saying the controversy surrounding Mandelson’s appointment had been poorly managed.

Police Investigation and Political Fallout

Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier apologised for appointing Mandelson as ambassador, saying he was “sorry” for believing what he described as Mandelson’s “lies,” as pressure mounted following admissions that Starmer was aware of Mandelson’s past ties to Epstein.

UK police confirmed on Tuesday that they had opened a criminal investigation into Mandelson amid allegations that he leaked government emails to Epstein. The probe followed the government’s referral of material to police after an initial review of Mandelson’s correspondence.

Emails released in the US last week show Mandelson forwarding internal government information to Epstein while serving as business secretary in 2009.

Mandelson stepped down from the House of Lords on Wednesday and resigned from the Labour Party on Sunday as the controversy deepened.

The US Justice Department has released more than three million pages of documents, along with thousands of videos and images, related to Epstein. While the files include photographs, grand jury transcripts and investigative records, many remain heavily redacted.

Epstein survivors and victims’ families have criticised the release, saying it fails to meet the requirements of the transparency law and omits crucial information.

Epstein was found dead in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges involving underage girls.