Harry Wilson of Bloomberg News details how the news organization contacted the British ambassador to the United States before it published its story about his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Wilson writes, “Bloomberg’s Monday message to Mandelson included 20 questions for him based on this cache of emails and gave him until 10pm UK time (5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time) on Sept. 12 to respond. This is what then happened.
“On that same Monday, a US Congressional committee published Epstein’s so-called ‘Birthday Book,’ which contained a glowing 10-page tribute to Epstein from Mandelson. Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein was now major news in the UK, with many in Westminster raising questions about Mandelson’s future in Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government.
“Having received no response to its original inquiries, Bloomberg wrote to the ambassador on Tuesday afternoon, adjusting his deadline for responding to 10 p.m. UK time on Wednesday. That email also received no response.
“However, on Wednesday morning, Mandelson appeared in a video interview with the UK newspaper The Sun. Responding to the birthday book furor, he said he deeply regretted his association with Epstein and then hinted at further revelations to come, without mentioning the emails obtained by Bloomberg News.
“At that point, Bloomberg sent WhatsApp messages to Mandelson’s UK and US cell phones asking him to respond to the questions he’d been sent. Five minutes later, he replied. ‘I don’t know what these emails are or where they come from,’ Mandelson wrote. He asked how Bloomberg obtained them.
“A further request for comment was sent to Mandelson via WhatsApp at 3:49 p.m. UK time. ‘I am taking advice on legalities and will revert,’ Mandelson replied a couple of minutes later.”
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