"Lord Mandelson said he never sought, nor did [Epstein] offer any introductions to women in the same way as he had done for others, perhaps it's because I'm a gay man. The Labour peer sought to defend himself in his first public appearance since the revelations, as he told the Harry Cole Saves the West podcast that Epstein was a charismatic criminal liar, adding that he regretted very, very deeply indeed carrying on that association with him for far longer than I should have."
"I feel a tremendous sense of sympathy for those people, those women, who suffered as a result of his behaviour and his illegal criminal activities, Mandelson said. And secondly I regret very very deeply indeed carrying on that association with him for far longer than I should have done, and I regret very very much that I fell for his lies."
Peter Mandelson acknowledged his longstanding friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and said more embarrassing details will emerge. He stated he never saw Epstein commit wrongdoing and that Epstein did not offer introductions to women for him, perhaps because Mandelson is gay. He described Epstein as a charismatic criminal liar and expressed deep regret for maintaining the association far longer than he should have. He said he felt sympathy for the women who suffered and regretted falling for Epstein's assurances about his original Florida criminal case. Downing Street said Keir Starmer continues to have full confidence in Mandelson, while the government emphasized the UK-US relationship ahead of a planned visit by President Trump.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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