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A powerful UK lawmaker has resigned after damning revelations from newly released US government documents exposed his close ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Getting into it: Peter Mandelson, a veteran British politician and former senior figure in the Labour Party, resigned from the House of Lords on Tuesday morning. Mandelson, 72, had held powerful roles in the UK government for decades, including multiple cabinet posts and a tenure as the UK’s ambassador to the United States. His resignation, submitted to the Speaker of the House of Lords and effective immediately, came just days after he also quit the Labour Party. While Mandelson has not issued a detailed explanation for his departure, he stated he wished to avoid “further embarrassment” to his party.

The DOJ’s Epstein files contain damning evidence of Mandelson’s friendly correspondence with Epstein, even after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sex crimes involving minors. The allegations include:

• Receiving or benefiting from undisclosed financial transfers, with DOJ‑released bank records indicating Epstein sent approximately $75,000 to accounts linked to Mandelson or his partner between 2003 and 2004.
• Leaking confidential UK government information to Epstein while serving as business secretary, including internal memos intended for the prime minister.
• Allowing Epstein to financially support his partner, including a £10,000 payment in 2009 for an osteopathy course and evidence of additional monthly transfers.
• Sharing market‑sensitive intelligence during the 2008 financial crisis, such as details of proposed £20 billion government asset sales and early confirmation of a €500 billion European bailout before it was publicly announced.
• Passing sensitive policy briefings related to banker bonus taxes, government debt strategy, and financial regulation to Epstein, potentially violating laws governing misuse of public office.
• Suggesting political pressure tactics, including advising that JPMorgan’s CEO should “mildly threaten” the UK chancellor over banker bonus taxation.

Also among the files is a photo of Mandelson in a shirt and underwear, standing near an unidentified woman in a bathrobe.

This all comes as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the situation as “disgraceful.” At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Starmer said he was “appalled by the information” contained in the Epstein files and ordered the Cabinet Office and civil service to conduct an “urgent” review of all Mandelson’s contacts with Epstein while in government. He also announced that a dossier of documents had been submitted to the Metropolitan Police for potential criminal investigation.

Starmer has also turned attention to Prince Andrew, another high-profile British figure named multiple times in the Epstein files. The prime minister urged the former royal, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, to cooperate fully with US authorities, including Congress, as they continue to investigate Epstein’s global network.