Mandelson lobbying firm sought work with Russia and China state companies, Epstein emails show

Peter Mandelson's former lobbying firm sought lucrative foreign business deals with Russia and China shortly after he left government, emails show. The disgraced former minister had been a member of the House of Lords at the time.

After leaving office in May 2010, Mandelson began pushing for high-paying jobs with mining company Glencore and oil major BP. However, he also continued to pursue foreign business opportunities with companies controlled by the Russian state and Chinese government.

In emails exchanged with his business partner Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, it appears that Global Counsel, the lobbying firm they co-founded in November 2010, was seeking lucrative work with companies such as Rusnano and China International Capital Corporation.

Rusnano is a technology investment fund owned by the Russian state, while China International Capital Corporation is a state-owned investment company.

Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser met Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of child sex abuse, in March 2010 to discuss business opportunities. The meeting took place at Epstein's New York townhouse.

Emails also show that Mandelson and Wegg-Prosser had discussions with high-ranking officials from other countries including Iran and Greece.

In one email, it appeared that Global Counsel was seeking to secure a lucrative deal with the Greek state-owned development fund to provide "political awareness" of its role. The firm's bid was pitched as part of a strategy to establish links with top-level policymakers across Europe.

The revelations have raised questions about Mandelson's judgment and integrity, particularly in light of his friendship with Epstein, who was under investigation when he died in 2019.

Global Counsel has distanced itself from the scandal, revoking Mandelson's voting rights and pushing him to divest his stake in the business.

.. this just gets weirder by the minute . I mean, Peter Mandelson is already a shady figure in my books, but finding out he was trying to cut deals with Russia and China right after leaving office? That's just gross . And what's up with his friendship with Epstein? Still doesn't sit right with me . I'm all for business as usual, but when you're working with state-owned companies and government officials like that, it starts to feel like a conflict of interest. Not to mention the fact that Global Counsel is trying to distance itself from this whole thing now... sounds like they're just trying to save their own skin . I don't know what's more disturbing - Mandelson's judgment or the fact that he thought this was okay in the first place .

this is all so dodgy... like what was Peter Mandelson thinking? He leaves government, goes straight into lobbying for companies controlled by the Russian state and Chinese government? That's not exactly a jump through hoops . And with friends like Jeffrey Epstein, who's basically dead now but still had some major skeletons in his closet... it's hard to trust him.

I mean, think about it - he's pushing for high-paying jobs with Glencore and BP, but also with these super shady Russian and Chinese companies? It just doesn't add up. And then there are these emails with high-ranking officials from other countries... what's really going on here?

It's not surprising that Global Counsel is distancing itself from the scandal now. I mean, who wants to be associated with this mess? But seriously, Mandelson needs to explain himself a lot better than just revoking his voting rights and pushing him to divest... there's more to it than that

This whole thing is just mind-boggling. So Peter Mandelson leaves office, starts his own lobbying firm with this guy Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, and suddenly they're hawking around lucrative deals with Russia, China, Iran... it's like he's not even trying to cover his tracks. I mean, what's the big deal about making some extra cash off foreign business? But then you find out that one of his biggest buddies is Jeffrey Epstein, who gets convicted of child sex abuse and ends up dead under suspicious circumstances... now that's a red flag if I ever saw one.

And to think he was supposed to be a member of the House of Lords at the time, which is like, super prestigious. But instead, it seems like he's just using his connections for personal gain. The emails from Global Counsel showing they were in talks with high-ranking officials from all these countries... it's just staggering how little integrity Mandelson had left.

The thing that really gets me though is that he and Wegg-Prosser are basically saying they can do whatever they want, as long as they're making money. It's like they think the rules don't apply to them or something. And now Global Counsel is trying to distance themselves from him because of his friendship with Epstein... it's just a mess.

.. this is some sketchy stuff. I mean, you're a former minister and you're still trying to make money off your connections? It just seems so fishy. And now we find out you were trying to do business with Russia and China too? That's just a big no-no, if you ask me.

And what really takes the cake is that you met up with Epstein to discuss business opportunities. I mean, he was a convicted sex offender, right? It's just weird that Mandelson would associate with someone like that. And now we know Global Counsel got in bed with him too... it's just a big mess.

I guess what really bothers me is that there are people who are getting away scot-free while others get scrutinized for the same thing. I don't know, maybe I'm just naive about how politics works... but this whole thing just feels off to me

I'm gettin' a bad feelin' about this ... Peter Mandelson, someone I used to look up to, but now it seems like he was just tryin' to line his pockets with Russian and Chinese cash ... I mean, what's next? Is that how politics works these days? ... It's not the fact that he was doin' business with Russia and China that's got me shook, it's the whole Epstein thing ... How could someone with so much power be friends with a convicted child sex abuser? ... And now Global Counsel is backin' out on him, revokin' his voting rights and tellin' him to sell up ... Guess that's what happens when you're caught with your hand in the cookie jar ...

I was just thinking about what I'm gonna get for my birthday next month and I really want a new gaming console . But anyway, back to this news... it's crazy that Mandelson was still trying to make deals with these state-controlled companies after he left office . Like, didn't he know that would raise some eyebrows? And oh man, the fact that he met up with Epstein like, right before he died ... that's just wrong on so many levels.

You know what's also wrong? My internet connection is super slow today . I swear, I paid for faster speeds and this is still the same old speed . Maybe I should just get a different provider?

And anyway, back to Mandelson... it's all just so suspicious . I don't know what to think about him anymore .

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one... I mean, you'd think that after leaving government, Peter Mandelson would've taken a step back and reflected on his actions, but it seems he was already diving headfirst into the world of lobbying and business deals with countries like Russia and China.

And what's even more concerning is that he was meeting with high-ranking officials from other countries while still pushing for lucrative deals through his firm, Global Counsel. It just feels like a huge conflict of interest, you know? Like, how can you be representing the interests of your own country and also be pushing for business deals with foreign governments?

And then there's the fact that he met Jeffrey Epstein, who was under investigation at the time... yeah, that doesn't sit well with me. It's like, can we really trust someone who associates with someone as shady as Epstein to be making decisions about our country's interests?

This whole thing is just so shady . I mean, think about it - Peter Mandelson, a former big shot politician, leaving office and already getting cozy with Russian and Chinese companies for personal gain? It's like he didn't even bother to take a break from politics mode . And then there's this whole Epstein thing... I don't know if the timing is just a coincidence or what . The fact that Global Counsel, Mandelson's lobbying firm, was pushing for lucrative deals with companies controlled by the Russian and Chinese states? That's some serious crony capitalism right there . And to think he's now distancing himself from it... I don't buy it . This whole thing just stinks of corruption and poor judgment .

omg what a shock i mean i'm not surprised that mandelson was trying to get into foreign business deals with russia and china - those guys are always on the lookout for ways to increase their influence and power but it's gotta be concerning that he was pursuing these opportunities just months after leaving office...like what was he thinking? and meeting up with epstein in march 2010? that's just sketchy. global counsel distancing themselves from the scandal is a good move though, at least they're taking responsibility for mandelson's actions

man i cant believe mandelsons past is coming back to haunt him like something straight out of a bad spy novel all these emails showin how he was tryin to do business with russias and china while still tryin to get his foot in the door with glencore and bp... what's even more suspicious is that he met epstein like just months before leavin government, can u imagine? it makes me think of all those dodgy connections from the 90s when mandelson was part of new labour... guess some things never change

omg what a mess! i mean peter mandelson seems like a good guy but all these emails with russians & chinese gov officials is sketchy especially since he met epstein which was like super shady at least global counsel has distanced itself now but it's clear that mandelson didn't think twice about working for companies with ties to those governments and what's up with the emails with iran & greece too? seems like someone did some pretty dodgy dealings

I'm so concerned about Peter Mandelson's dealings . I mean, I know we've all had jobs after leaving politics, but this seems like a whole different story . He was pushing for deals with companies that are basically state-owned and he even met with Epstein... that guy was shady . And now Global Counsel is saying he can't vote or own shares? That's just not right . I don't know if we should be surprised, though - politicians often have these weird connections outside of politics . Still, it's hard to shake the feeling that Mandelson was using his influence for personal gain . Ugh, it just doesn't sit well with me .

just saw this news about peter mandelson's lobbying firm and it got me thinking... shouldn't ex gov officials be more transparent about their business dealings? like, what was he thinking trying to secure deals with russian state-owned companies while still being a member of the lords? it seems like he was pretty focused on lining his own pockets instead of looking out for the public interest. and to make matters worse, he's got ties to epstein... that's just a whole other level of sketchy. anyway, i guess this is just another example of how politicians can't always be trusted

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one ... Peter Mandelson's lobbying firm was basically courting some pretty sketchy companies, if you ask me. I mean, Rusnano and China International Capital Corporation? Those are state-owned entities that have been involved in some shady dealings over the years. It just seems like a recipe for trouble.

And let's not forget about Jeffrey Epstein... what was Mandelson thinking? His friendship with Epstein is still getting sorted out, but it's clear he was getting cozy with some pretty dubious characters. I'm not sure if I buy the whole "just doing business" line - there's got to be more to this story than just a simple case of someone trying to make a buck.

I think what really bothers me is that Mandelson was still pushing for lucrative deals with companies he had no real connection to, while also being buddies with someone who was under investigation at the time. It just seems like he was looking out for number one, regardless of the consequences. Not exactly the kind of integrity you want from a public figure