Giuffre Family Criticizes Mandelson’s Appointment Amid Epstein Ties

The family of Virginia Giuffre has expressed strong disapproval of the recent appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as the UK ambassador to the United States. Giuffre, a prominent accuser of Jeffrey Epstein, died by suicide in April 2023 at the age of 41. She had alleged that Prince Andrew sexually abused her on three occasions when she was just 17 years old, a claim linked to her experiences as a victim of trafficking.

Following the revelation of emails that showed Mandelson had sent supportive messages to Epstein during a time when the financier was facing legal troubles for sex offenses, he was dismissed from his ambassadorial role. Among the documents was a handwritten birthday message from Mandelson for Epstein’s 50th birthday, accompanied by a photograph of the two together.

In their first broadcast interview with the BBC’s *Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg*, Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, and sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, voiced their concerns regarding Mandelson’s suitability for the position. “Absolutely not. He should not have been given the position in the first place,” Mr. Roberts stated emphatically.

Ms. Roberts added, “Why does it take us to have to pull out the skeletons for people to be held accountable? Our governments have allowed these people to hold their status and their title without shame.” She expressed regret that the situation had not been addressed sooner, emphasizing that Mandelson should never have been appointed to such a position of influence.

Prince Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating he does not recall meeting Ms. Giuffre. His ties to Epstein have drawn scrutiny, particularly after he stepped back from public duties in 2019 amid widespread criticism of their friendship. This controversy intensified following a BBC Newsnight interview, where he attempted to explain his whereabouts on the night Ms. Giuffre alleged the abuse took place.

In 2021, Prince Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement related to a civil case brought by Ms. Giuffre, the terms of which remain undisclosed. According to Ms. Roberts, the royal family has not reached out to their family following this settlement, indicating ongoing feelings of neglect and frustration.

Reports suggest that Prince Andrew may soon face additional scrutiny from the US Congress. This includes the potential release of hundreds of thousands of documents linked to Epstein, which allegedly contain over 100 emails exchanged between the prince and Epstein, some of which have been described as “incriminating.” A source familiar with the matter commented, “If you think what’s happened to Peter Mandelson is bad then you have no idea what will happen when the Andrew emails are released. They are embarrassing and incriminating and he could be destroyed.”

Epstein, who was charged with numerous sex offenses, died by suicide in a US jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. In a related development, a memoir detailing Virginia Giuffre’s life, titled *Nobody’s Girl*, is scheduled for release in October 2023, offering further insight into her experiences and struggles.

The implications of the Giuffre family’s statements and the potential fallout from the upcoming revelations surrounding Prince Andrew highlight ongoing discussions about accountability and the handling of high-profile abuse cases within powerful circles.