The Go-Between: How Peter Mandelson Brokered Jeffrey Epstein's Access to Russian Oligarchs

On November 8, 2010, Jeffrey Epstein sent Peter Mandelson an email with a simple question: "will oleg either be in paris, thurs till sunday, or moscow next week" (EFTA00777408).

The next day, writing from Turkey, Epstein followed up: "im in turkety, amazing, did you get an answer on oleg?" (EFTA00777454).

"Oleg" was Oleg Deripaska, the Russian aluminum billionaire, sanctioned by the United States in 2018 and convicted of violating those sanctions in 2024. Mandelson was the go-between.

These emails are not isolated. They are part of a documentary record spanning at least 6,968 linked documents in the Department of Justice EFTA releases, revealing a sustained, transactional relationship between a convicted sex offender and one of Britain's most powerful political figures. Peter Mandelson, Baron Mandelson, former Secretary of State for Business and First Secretary of State, did not merely attend a dinner party. He operated as Epstein's personal gateway to the Russian oligarch class.

On February 23, 2026, Mandelson was arrested by London's Metropolitan Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office in connection with his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. He was released on bail at 2 a.m. the following morning. His lawyers at Mishcon De Reya stated: "Peter Mandelson's overriding priority is to cooperate with the police investigation, as he has done throughout this process, and to clear his name." What follows is the documentary evidence that preceded that arrest.

The Wire Transfer

A JPMorgan Private Bank statement from June 2004 records a $5,000 CHIPS debit from Epstein's account payable to "PETER MANDELSON" via HSBC Bank USA (EFTA01482503).

CHIPS (Clearing House Interbank Payments System) is used for large-value, time-critical transfers between financial institutions. A $5,000 CHIPS transfer from a JPMorgan Private Bank account to a named individual at HSBC is not a casual reimbursement. It is a formal interbank payment with a documented audit trail.

This $5,000 payment is one element of a broader pattern documented in the released files. Separate bank records, published by the U.S. House Oversight Committee in September 2025, show three payments totaling approximately $75,000 made to accounts connected to Mandelson or his partner, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, in 2003 and 2004. A spokesman for Mandelson told media outlets that "neither he nor his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, has any record or recollection of receiving payments in 2003 or 2004 or know whether the documentation is authentic." Mandelson has questioned the authenticity of these records, citing what he described as incorrect beneficiary details and errors in dates, spelling, and formatting.

Payments to Reinaldo Avila da Silva

The financial relationship extended to Mandelson's partner. On August 13, 2009, Epstein emailed Reinaldo Avila da Silva, with Mandelson on blind copy: "please send allthe info if you intend to got to the osetopay scholl, tuition needs, financial aid avalible etc." (EFTA01817540).

On September 7, 2009, Epstein forwarded a message from Avila da Silva to Mandelson. The forwarded message read: "Thanks very much!" Avila da Silva's email signature identified him as "Osteopath in training" at 4 Park Village West, London. Epstein had written in the chain: "I will wire your loan amount immediately" (EFTA01818446).

A separate email from the same month shows Mandelson writing to Epstein: "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" (EFTA01816898).

Released records indicate Epstein placed Avila da Silva on a monthly stipend of $4,000, sent directly to his personal bank account between 2009 and 2010.

"Does Oleg Know Him?"

The emails between Epstein and Mandelson reveal a pattern in which Epstein repeatedly used Mandelson to reach Deripaska and, through Deripaska, the broader Russian business network.

On December 28, 2009, Epstein wrote to Mandelson: "Ara Abramyan a russian, might come see me on thurs. does oleg know him" (EFTA00744169).

Ara Abramyan is a Russian-Armenian billionaire and president of the Union of Armenians of Russia. Epstein was using Mandelson to verify the bona fides of Russian visitors through Deripaska's network.

Mandelson's first reply was brief: "I will ask" (EFTA02431995). His second response, sent the following morning, was more pointed. The reply line reads: "don't have anything to do with that jerk" (EFTA02431973). Mandelson had checked with Deripaska and returned with a verdict.

On November 1, 2009, Epstein forwarded a listing for a "Moscow City penthouse" to Mandelson. Mandelson's reply was revealing: "Oleg has a great woman, Tatiana, who looks after a number of things for him (!) including property. Shall I forward to her?" (EFTA00689978).

Epstein responded: "Or ask oleg what he thinks" (EFTA00689980).

The parenthetical exclamation point in Mandelson's message, his casual familiarity with Deripaska's personal staff, and his willingness to serve as a relay for real estate inquiries all point to a relationship that went well beyond diplomatic acquaintance.

The Russian Visa Chain

The Deripaska connection produced its most concrete result in November 2010. The full email chain reconstructs how Epstein obtained a Russian visa through Mandelson and Deripaska's joint intervention.

On November 9, 2010, Epstein wrote to Mandelson: "I do not have a visa for Russia, it is a bank holiday in paris today... any ideas how i can get one" (EFTA01979462).

Mandelson forwarded the request. His reply, via BlackBerry: "R u awake? Ben can get visa thru OD. Needs scans of your passports" (EFTA00777470).

"Ben" was Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, Mandelson's business partner and co-founder of Global Counsel. "OD" was Oleg Deripaska.

The following morning, Mandelson confirmed: "OD office helping on visas. Told him he sd meet u and of course he wants to" (EFTA02414533).

Within 24 hours, Mandelson had arranged for a convicted sex offender to obtain a Russian visa through the private office of a sanctioned oligarch. Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser co-founded Global Counsel the same month.

"Nat Does Not Want Me to Meet Oleg"

In September 2011, a brief exchange between Epstein and Mandelson exposed the politics within their shared circle.

Mandelson asked: "Did you see OD?" (EFTA00878054).

Epstein replied: "no, nat nixed."

Mandelson: "Nixed?"

Epstein: "Nat does not want me to meet Oleg."

Mandelson: "Either protective or jealous" (EFTA00878060).

"Nat" was Nathaniel Rothschild, the financier and longtime Deripaska associate whose role in connecting Mandelson to Deripaska became the subject of a 2012 libel trial in London. Rothschild had sued the Daily Mail for reporting that Mandelson's 2008 visit to Deripaska's yacht in Corfu had been arranged by Rothschild. Rothschild lost.

The September 2011 exchange reveals a more layered dynamic: Rothschild was actively blocking Epstein's direct access to Deripaska, forcing Epstein to rely on Mandelson as his channel.

A separate email from April 2010 shows how these relationships overlapped with banking. Mandelson forwarded Epstein an email chain about Rothschild's plan to list a financial vehicle on the London Stock Exchange, with Mandelson writing to JPMorgan banker Jes Staley: "I've been following my friend Nat Rothschild's plans to list a vehicle on the LSE and I'm very happy that JPM are now planning to get involved as book runners alongside CS." Epstein's reply: "you are s000000000000000 devious or devioso. (spanish)" (EFTA01826982).

Dinner with Leon Black, Nat, and Oleg

The day before Rothschild blocked Epstein's access, Epstein had written to Mandelson: "leon black asked me to have dinner tomorrow with nat, oleg?" (EFTA00920045).

Mandelson replied: "To celebrate Oleg US visa. Ask him about his NY house" (EFTA00920047).

Leon Black is the co-founder of Apollo Global Management. Between 2012 and 2017, Black paid Epstein approximately $158 million through a Virgin Islands entity called Southern Trust. The U.S. Virgin Islands later settled its claims against Black for $62.5 million.

This single email places four men at the same dinner table: Jeffrey Epstein, Leon Black, Nathaniel Rothschild, and Oleg Deripaska. The occasion, per Mandelson, was a celebration of Deripaska obtaining a U.S. visa, a document that had been denied to Deripaska multiple times due to FBI concerns about his ties to organized crime.

Mandelson was not at this dinner. He was coordinating it.

Staying at the House

A weekly scheduling document prepared by Lesley Groff, Epstein's executive assistant, for the week of May 24, 2012 contains the notation: "Peter Mandelson in NY around May 26th-30th WILL HE STAY AT THE HOUSE?" (EFTA00412607).

"The house" was 9 East 71st Street, Epstein's Manhattan mansion, the largest private residence in New York City and the location where multiple victims have alleged they were sexually abused.

The answer, documented in a separate email from Groff, was yes. In a message sent May 24, 2012, Groff wrote: "Does that mean pete Mandelson is staying with Jeffrey at 71st street during his visit???" An associate replied: "I will. I'm asking Peter what his dates are in NY first." Groff responded: "Oh wow. Ok. I hope the news people don't find out! Will you tell the house?" (EFTA00543261).

This was not a one-time arrangement. An earlier schedule from late January 2011 contains the entry: "Peter Mendelson arrives today and will stay at the house" followed by dinner entries listing Mandelson alongside Bill Gates and Boris Nikolic (EFTA00304706). A second Groff scheduling email, this one from the same week, noted Mandelson at a dinner with Bill Gates, Boris Nikolic, and later Sultan bin Sulayem (EFTA01809854).

A December 2010 reminder from Groff to Epstein stated: "FYI-I have a reminder that Peter Mandelson might come to NY Dec. 12-14. I checked with him last week on this and his response: Still an option. Will discuss with J over weekend. But he has ideas about going to Africa early and staying over Xmas..." (EFTA01830073).

The Prince Andrew Strategy

When the BBC contacted Epstein about Prince Andrew in March 2011, Epstein forwarded the request directly to Mandelson. Mandelson's response was a single word: "No!!" Later that evening: "home if you want to talk - going to bed early" (d-16917, d-25925, d-28823).

Five years later, on November 6, 2016, Epstein sent Mandelson a more reflective message: "trump/ and having a great deal of fun. in hindsight. you were right about staying away from andrew. I was right in your staying with rinaldo" (d-15996).

Mandelson replied: "What's the donald white house?"

The exchange confirms that Mandelson had explicitly advised Epstein to distance himself from Prince Andrew. That Epstein credits this advice in retrospect, and that Mandelson accepted the credit without objection, suggests a relationship in which Mandelson served as a strategic advisor on Epstein's most sensitive relationships.

Market-Sensitive Information

On May 9, 2010, Epstein wrote to Mandelson: "sources tell me 500 b euro bailout, almost compelte." Mandelson replied: "Sd be announced tonight." Later that evening: "Going to bed after day of drama..more tomorrow." Epstein responded: "sleep well" (EFTA01813239).

European governments approved the EUR 500 billion bailout the following morning. Mandelson was serving as Business Secretary in Gordon Brown's cabinet at the time. Police are investigating whether these and similar exchanges constituted the passing of market-sensitive government information to a private individual. Mandelson has denied sharing any information that was not already public.

On December 18, 2009, Mandelson wrote to Epstein from his BlackBerry: "Do you think Obama persuadable to introduce a (Tobin) fin transaction tax?" (d-31229). The Tobin tax was at that moment a live policy debate in European capitals. Mandelson, then serving as Business Secretary, was soliciting Epstein's view on U.S. presidential decision-making.

On July 16, 2012, after the Barclays LIBOR scandal forced the resignation of CEO Bob Diamond, Mandelson sent Epstein an extended analysis of the crisis, including a full Global Counsel research note discussing Marcus Agius and Mike Rake by name. Mandelson wrote: "I know as much (little) as anyone else. Who others at Barclays do you mean, left or still there? Global Counsel did an Insight note a week ago. Pasted in below for ease of reading" (EFTA00939242, EFTA01878841). Global Counsel was Mandelson's own advisory firm. He was sharing proprietary client-grade political analysis with a registered sex offender.

The JPMorgan Connection

Mandelson also served as Epstein's intermediary to JPMorgan Chase, a relationship documented across multiple emails.

On June 15, 2010, Epstein wrote to Mandelson: "I think you should send jamie dimon a email saying you will be in new york, would he like to have a coffee." Mandelson replied: "Jes says Jamie away. I am seeing Peter Scher head of govt relation of jpm on fri at 11.15 at jes suggestion" (EFTA02412451).

A March 2013 scheduling email from Groff confirms: "Peter Mandelson and Jes Staley have both confirmed they will come for dinner on Thursday April 4th at 7:30" (EFTA01763296).

In January 2011, Mandelson sent Epstein an email about Rothschild's "Topaz directorship," writing: "see from bottom of email chain. Nat called me yesterday for first time in months. I thought I would engage his great brain. What a mistake" (EFTA01793676).

In January 2011, following a dinner with an academic identified only as "LS," Mandelson wrote to Epstein: "Nice dinner and discussion with LS (I paid for this academic pauper). Lots of talk about how, respectably, to make money. We both agreed that, whatever other shortcomings you have, you are good and honest on money, and generous to the revenue.." (EFTA01834141).

The Network Map

Our database records 3,686 document co-occurrences between Mandelson and Epstein. The broader co-occurrence data maps his position within the network:

• Jes Staley (JPMorgan): 111 shared documents
• Ehud Barak (former Israeli PM): 80
• Mort Zuckerman (media mogul): 54
• Leon Black (Apollo): 44
• Prince Andrew: 43
• Bill Clinton: 39
• Ghislaine Maxwell: 34
• Alan Dershowitz: 26
• Tony Blair: 13
• Nat Rothschild: 7

Mandelson sits at the intersection of finance, politics, and royalty within the Epstein network. He is not peripheral. He is structural.

Mandelson's Statements

Mandelson has called Epstein a "charismatic criminal liar" and stated that he felt "very, very deep regret" for continuing their association "far longer than I should have done." In a public statement, he said: "I want to say loudly and clearly that I was wrong to believe him following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologize unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered."

A prepared statement drafted by Benjamin Wegg-Prosser in March 2011, found in the released files, reads: "Lord Mandelson was in London on 12 and 13 December 2009 prior to travelling to India on government business, and no such meeting was requested by him. Lord Mandelson was introduced to Mr Epstein a decade before by his then partner Ghislaine Maxwell who, along with her father and other members of her family, Lord Mandelson had known for many years before" (EFTA01838629).

Mandelson has denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes, denied sharing market-sensitive information that was not already public, and questioned the authenticity of payment records bearing his name. He resigned from the Labour Party and from the House of Lords in February 2026.

What the Documents Show

The documentary record establishes five distinct functions Mandelson performed for Epstein:

1. Access broker to Russian oligarchs. He served as Epstein's primary channel to Deripaska, verifying contacts, relaying messages, arranging visas, and coordinating meetings over a period of years.

2. Strategic advisor. He counseled Epstein on managing the Prince Andrew relationship and accepted credit for that advice.

3. Political intelligence source. He shared proprietary analysis from his own advisory firm, discussed live policy questions, and exchanged messages about an upcoming EUR 500 billion bailout while serving in the British cabinet.

4. Social companion. Scheduling documents show him staying at Epstein's mansion on multiple occasions, dining with Epstein's business contacts including Bill Gates and Jes Staley, and maintaining regular personal communication including plans to celebrate Epstein's birthday.

5. Financial recipient. Bank records document a direct $5,000 payment from Epstein, with separate records indicating additional payments totaling approximately $75,000 and a monthly stipend to his partner.

Mandelson has previously described his relationship with Epstein as limited and regrettable. The documents describe a sustained, multi-year, multi-functional relationship in which one of Britain's most senior politicians served as a convicted sex offender's advisor and conduit to some of the most powerful people in Russia.

The documents speak for themselves.