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.
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.
. 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.
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 
And now Global Counsel is trying to distance themselves from him because of his friendship with Epstein... it's just a mess.
... 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 
... 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 
... 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 
...
and I really want a new gaming console 
And oh man, the fact that he met up with Epstein like, right before he died 
. I swear, I paid for faster speeds and this is still the same old speed 
.
. And then there's this whole Epstein thing... I don't know if the timing is just a coincidence or what 
.
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 
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? 
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 
. I mean, I know we've all had jobs after leaving politics, but this seems like a whole different story 