Sir Tony Blair met Jeffrey Epstein at Downing Street while he was Prime Minister, as confirmed by the BBC after lobbying from Sir Peter Mandelson. A memo dated May 14, 2002, prepared by senior civil servant Matthew Rycroft, outlined the meeting scheduled for that day. At the time, Epstein was known as a financial adviser and friend of Bill Clinton, though he would later be convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Blair’s spokesman said the meeting lasted under 30 minutes and primarily focused on US and UK politics, noting it occurred long before Epstein’s criminal activities became known. Emails revealed that Mandelson had encouraged the meeting, describing Epstein as “safe” and emphasizing his connections with influential figures.
The release of these documents was previously blocked due to concerns about their impact on UK-US relations but was made public after Mandelson was dismissed as US ambassador. Rycroft’s memo highlighted Epstein’s wealth and connections, reinforcing the significance of the meeting, particularly regarding discussions on science and economic trends.
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