An image of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Peter Mandelson, and Jeffrey Epstein has been found in documents released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), as reported by ITV News.
The photo, believed to have been taken between 1999 and 2000 in Martha's Vineyard, shows the three men sitting around a wooden deck table. According to the DOJ, the image is part of a large collection of documents, including three million pages, 180,000 images, and 2,000 videos, made publicly available in January.
Mountbatten-Windsor and Lord Mandelson have both been arrested and released under investigation on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to their connections to Epstein. The image does not imply any wrongdoing, but it is the first known photo of the three men together.
Background on the Individuals Involved
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, while Lord Mandelson has stated that he believes he has not acted criminally. Both men have lost positions due to their connections to the late financier, with Mountbatten-Windsor stripped of his royal titles and Lord Mandelson sacked as the UK's ambassador to the US.
Epstein died in a Manhattan prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's girlfriend, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting and trafficking teenage girls for sexual abuse by the financier.
Investigation and Response
The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation last month over allegations that Lord Mandelson passed on market-sensitive government information to Epstein while serving as a government minister. Lord Mandelson has not publicly commented on the matter, but it is understood that he maintains he has not acted criminally.
Journalists and the public continue to review the documents released by the DOJ, with new information and images still being discovered. The BBC has seen the newly discovered image and has reported on the context and implications of the photo.
