It’s a story that’s been tucked away in government archives for years, sparking whispers and raising eyebrows each time new details surface. On May 14, 2002, then-Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair met with Jeffrey Epstein inside the storied walls of Downing Street. The meeting, which lasted less than half an hour, has come back into the spotlight following the release of previously restricted government documents, as reported by BBC News and corroborated by Rokna.
For many, the name Jeffrey Epstein is now synonymous with scandal and criminality. But back in 2002, those dark chapters had yet to be written. Epstein was widely known as a financial adviser to the super-rich, a property developer, and a man who moved comfortably among the world’s elite. According to a briefing memo written by senior civil servant Matthew Rycroft (sometimes spelled Rikraft in other reports), Epstein was described as “very wealthy,” with close ties to influential figures like former US President Bill Clinton, Lord Peter Mandelson, and the Duke of York.
The newly released memo, dated May 14, 2002, was prepared for Blair ahead of his scheduled 5:00 PM GMT meeting with Epstein. Rycroft wrote, “Jeffrey Epstein is seeing you at 5pm today. He is a financial adviser to the super-rich and a property developer. He is a friend of Bill Clinton and Peter Mandelson.” The document, marked as restricted, went on to note that “Peter says that Epstein now travels with Clinton and Clinton wants you to meet him. He thinks you would find worthwhile a conversation with him about a) science and b) international economic and monetary trends.”
It’s clear from the documents that Lord Peter Mandelson played a pivotal role in arranging the meeting. At the time, Mandelson was a backbench MP, having resigned twice from the cabinet but still wielding considerable influence within Labour circles. According to BBC News, Mandelson pushed for the meeting through email correspondence with Tony Blair’s chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, describing Epstein as “a friend of mine” and “safe (whatever that means).” Mandelson’s email, dated May 7, 2002, referenced Bill Clinton’s desire to introduce Epstein to the British Prime Minister, noting, “Do you remember when Clinton saw TB [Tony Blair] he said he wanted to introduce his travelling friend, Jeffrey Epstein, to TB? This was frustrated – TB said at the time – in the office for reasons (he says) he was unclear about. I think TB would be interested in meeting Jeffrey, who is also a friend of mine, because Jeffrey is an active scientific catalyst/entrepreneur as well as someone who has his finger on the pulse of many worldwide markets and currencies. He is young and vibrant. He is safe (whatever that means) and Clinton is now doing a lot of travelling with him.”
Emails obtained by BBC News show Mandelson’s persistence, as he wrote, “I mentioned to TB that Jeffrey is in London next week and he said he would like to meet him. I have ascertained from Jeffrey that he is flexible – he could be here any time from Tuesday onwards to fit round the diary – but would obviously need to know reasonably quickly so as to re-schedule accordingly. Can you let me know?” These exchanges show how Epstein, already a figure of intrigue and influence, was being ushered into the highest levels of British government at the behest of powerful friends.
Handwritten notes on the print-out of Mandelson’s email—some now nearly illegible—hint at a degree of uncertainty or perhaps caution. One note reportedly reads, “do you want to do this... Because you wanted to see Clinton by yourself... I know very little more about him.” It’s a reminder that even among the elite, introductions sometimes come with caveats and second thoughts.
For Blair’s part, a spokesperson told the BBC, “As far as he can remember, Mr Blair met with him for less than 30 minutes in Downing Street in 2002, and discussed US and UK politics. He never met or engaged with him subsequently. This was, of course, long before his crimes were known of and his subsequent conviction.” This assertion is echoed in the government documents, which confirm the meeting’s brief duration and its focus on political topics.
It’s important to remember the timing: the meeting took place six years before Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in June 2008, and well before his more notorious criminal activities became public knowledge. At the time, there was no public hint of the allegations that would later engulf Epstein and cast a shadow over everyone in his orbit.
Still, the release of these documents has reignited debates about transparency, influence, and the responsibilities of public officials when dealing with powerful and enigmatic figures. The National Archives made the memo and related documents public following a Freedom of Information request—an act that itself only became possible after Lord Mandelson was dismissed as US ambassador following new revelations about his friendship with Epstein. The government had previously blocked the release of these files, citing concerns about the impact on UK-US relations.
According to Rokna, the meeting was arranged at Mandelson’s request, at a time when Epstein’s sexual misconduct had not yet become public knowledge. The outlet notes that Matthew Rycroft’s briefing described Epstein as a “very wealthy” financial advisor, echoing the BBC’s reporting. Both sources confirm that the meeting’s timing—May 14, 2002—predated Epstein’s 2008 conviction and his subsequent death in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Bill Clinton, for his part, has acknowledged being a former associate of Epstein but has stated he had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. The Duke of York, another name mentioned in the memo, would also later face scrutiny over his own connections to Epstein—a story that continues to ripple through the British establishment.
The newly released documents also included a schedule headed “Trade and Industry Meetings with Industry,” further underscoring the business and economic focus that was supposed to characterize the meeting. Yet, the mere fact of Epstein’s presence in Downing Street—facilitated by powerful intermediaries and accompanied by glowing endorsements—raises questions that remain unanswered. Who else was in the room? What was said off the record? And how many other such introductions took place, quietly, behind closed doors?
For now, what’s clear is that the intersection of politics, money, and influence can create a fog that takes years—sometimes decades—to lift. The slow trickle of documents from the National Archives may yet reveal more about this brief but now-infamous meeting, and about the networks that shape decisions at the very top.
As more pieces of the puzzle fall into place, the public is left to ponder the hidden dynamics that tie together power, reputation, and the relentless passage of time.
