Tony Blair met Jeffrey Epstein whereas prime minister

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<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/f203/live/e5fc5b10-a60a-11f0-a188-efa4885b3354.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/f203/live/e5fc5b10-a60a-11f0-a188-efa4885b3354.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f203/live/e5fc5b10-a60a-11f0-a188-efa4885b3354.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/f203/live/e5fc5b10-a60a-11f0-a188-efa4885b3354.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/f203/live/e5fc5b10-a60a-11f0-a188-efa4885b3354.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/f203/live/e5fc5b10-a60a-11f0-a188-efa4885b3354.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/f203/live/e5fc5b10-a60a-11f0-a188-efa4885b3354.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f203/live/e5fc5b10-a60a-11f0-a188-efa4885b3354.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images Close-up of Tony Blair at the G8 Summit, looking slightly to the left with a serious expression. He is wearing formal attire, and behind him is a large, blurred Union Jack flag on a blue background." class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> Getty Photos Sir Tony Blair met with Jeffrey Epstein in Downing Avenue whereas nonetheless prime minister, following lobbying by Lord Peter Mandelson, the BBC has confirmed.

A memo written by senior civil servant Matthew Rycroft, dated 14 Could 2002, briefs Sir Tony about "super-rich" monetary adviser Epstein forward of a gathering scheduled at 17.00 GMT that day.

The assembly was six years earlier than Epstein pleaded responsible to soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008.

A spokesperson for Sir Tony mentioned: "So far as he can bear in mind, Mr Blair met with him for lower than half-hour in Downing Avenue in 2002, and mentioned US and UK politics. He by no means met or engaged with him subsequently."

He added: "This was, after all, lengthy earlier than his crimes had been identified of and his subsequent conviction."

Emails seen by BBC Information present Lord Mandelson pushed for the assembly, telling Sir Tony's chief of workers Jonathan Powell that Epstein was "a pal of mine" who ex-US President Invoice Clinton hoped to introduce to the PM.

The discharge of this and a number of other associated paperwork had beforehand been blocked by authorities officers on account of considerations in regards to the affect on UK-US relations.

The doc has now been launched by the Nationwide Archives below a Freedom of Info request, following the sacking of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador after contemporary revelations about his friendship with the disgraced financier.

Within the e-mail to Powell - the present UK authorities's nationwide safety adviser - Lord Mandelson refers to Epstein as "secure".

The e-mail on 7 Could 2002 states: "Do you bear in mind when Clinton noticed TB [Tony Blair] he mentioned he needed to introduce his travelling pal, Jeffrey Epstein, to TB?

"This was annoyed - TB mentioned on the time - within the workplace for causes (he says) he was unclear about. I feel TB can be excited by assembly Jeffrey, who can also be a pal of mine, as a result of Jeffrey is an lively scientific catalyst/entrepreneur in addition to somebody who has his finger on the heart beat of many worldwide markets and currencies.

"He's younger and vibrant. He's secure (no matter which means) and Clinton is now doing a number of travelling with him."

The e-mail continues: "I discussed to TB that Jeffrey is in London subsequent week and he mentioned he wish to meet him.

"I've ascertained from Jeffrey that he's versatile - he might be right here any time from Tuesday onwards to suit around the diary - however would clearly must know moderately rapidly in order to re-schedule accordingly. Are you able to let me know?"

There are three separate handwritten notes on the print-out of the e-mail, a few of that are illegible, however one seems to learn "do you wish to do that... Since you needed to see Clinton by your self... I do know little or no extra about him".

On the time, Lord Mandelson was a backbench MP, having twice resigned from the cupboard, however nonetheless a pressure in Labour.

Clinton has acknowledged being a former affiliate of Epstein however mentioned had no information of his crimes.

Epstein was convicted in Florida for soliciting prostitution from an individual below the age of 18 in 2008. He died in 2019 whereas awaiting trial on intercourse trafficking fees.

The Nationwide Archive has additionally launched a schedule headed Commerce and Business Conferences with Business, which features a memo revealed on 14 Could 2002, briefing Sir Tony about Epstein forward of a gathering schedule for 17.00 GMT that day.

The briefing, written by senior civil servant Matthew Rycroft is marked R, understood to imply restricted.

Within the memo, Rycroft, who till March 2025 was the everlasting secretary on the House Workplace, wrote to Blair: "Jeffrey Epstein is seeing you at 5pm at this time.

"He's a monetary adviser to the super-rich and a property developer. He's a pal of Invoice Clinton and Peter Mandelson."

Rycroft states: "The background on Epstein is that he's very wealthy and near the Duke of York".

He provides: "Peter says that Epstein now travels with Clinton and Clinton desires you to fulfill him.

"He thinks you'd discover worthwhile a dialog with him a few) science and b) worldwide financial and financial tendencies."

The memo was additionally despatched to Powell and Geoffrey Norris, considered one of Sir Tony's particular advisers.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/6133/live/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/6133/live/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6133/live/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/6133/live/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/6133/live/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/6133/live/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/6133/live/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/6133/live/2bce6ee0-0b00-11f0-97d3-37df2b293ed1.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Thin, red banner promoting the Politics Essential newsletter with text saying, “Top political analysis in your inbox every day”. There is also an image of the Houses of Parliament." class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> [ad_2] Source link