Lord Peter Mandelson has been removed as British ambassador to the U.S. over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
UK Prime Minster Keir Starmer ordered his firing after a series of damaging revelations about his longtime friendship with the disgraced financier and convicted child sex abuser, reported The Telegraph, which had previously revealed emails showing Mandelson advised Epstein on how to respond to criminal charges over soliciting a minor in 2008.
"The emails show that the depth and extent of Peter Mandelson’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is materially different from that known at the time of his appointment," the Foreign Office said in a statement. “In light of that, and mindful of the victims of Epstein’s crimes he has been withdrawn as Ambassador with immediate effect.”
Mandelson and Epstein had worked together on a $1.35 billion business deal after the late pedophile's conviction for child sex crimes, and while Mandelson was serving as a government minister.
The former ambassador described Epstein as his "best pal" in notes written for a book on the financier's 50th birthday in 2003, but Starmer had stood by Mandelson until the emails leaked Wednesday.
The move comes just days before U.S. President Donald Trump, who was also longtime friends with Epstein, is scheduled to arrive in the UK for his second state visit.