Jeffrey Epstein acted as a relationship counsellor between Lord Mandelson and his then boyfriend, Reinaldo Avila da Silva.
In one emotional exchange, the politician said he was in ‘basically an abusive relationship’. It is unclear who that was with.
He and Mr da Silva have been together for nearly three decades and wed in 2023.
An email from Epstein to Lord Mandelson in July 2009 suggests the financier met Mr da Silva, 53, while serving the last few days of his jail term for soliciting prostitution. Epstein was in a work-release scheme and could leave jail during the day.
He wrote: ‘I spent an hour with Rinaldo [sic]. Call me tomorrow at office.’
Lord Mandelson, 72, replied: ‘Thanks for talking to Reinaldo. It did him (therefore me) a lot of good. You now see the problems. I cannot talk to him about these things at all, he won’t listen.’
Apparently referring to Mr da Silva, Epstein emailed Lord Mandelson that August to say he had ‘talked him back from the edge’, adding: ‘You owe me. Osteopath school it is.’
Epstein gave Mr da Silva £10,000 to take an osteopathy course and cover expenses. Lord Mandelson emailed to say he wasn’t sure how happy Mr da Silva was about this.
Jeffrey Epstein (pictured) acted as a relationship counsellor between Lord Mandelson and his then boyfriend, Reinaldo Avila da Silva
Mandelson nd Mr da Silva have been together for nearly three decades and wed in 2023
But Epstein replied that he had got a ‘dramatically different’ message from Mr da Silva, adding: ‘He said that is what he wants and you are psychically interfering with all this good.’
In March 2010, Lord Mandelson emailed Epstein frantically: ‘I have had v bad setback with R who has somehow got into my texts… What shall I do?’
Epstein said their emails were ‘probably compromised’, too, adding: ‘Let’s talk.’
In December 2011, Epstein emailed his friend saying: ‘I’m sorry you are so sad.’
It is unclear who Lord Mandelson was referring to when he replied: ‘I am sorry too. He is so volatile in his moods and behaviour. Basically an abusive relationship.’
Lord Mandelson was asked to comment.
