British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was warned about reputational risk before appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the United States, according to documents released Wednesday by the U.K. government. The prime minister's vetting team flagged Mandelson's ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a December 2024 due diligence checklist.

Despite warnings, Starmer announced Mandelson would bring 'unrivaled experience' to the diplomatic post. The vetting document noted Mandelson's relationship with Epstein continued from 2009-2011, including a reported stay at Epstein's house while he was jailed in June 2009. Mandelson has not been accused of sexual misconduct, but U.S. Justice Department files revealed a closer friendship with Epstein than publicly known.

Starmer fired Mandelson in September 2025 after emails exposed more details about their relationship. The British police arrested and released Mandelson last month over accusations of passing confidential government information. The prime minister has said he regrets believing Mandelson's lies about the extent of their friendship and acknowledged the appointment was a mistake, ordering an overhaul of vetting procedures to strengthen ethics in political and public life.