British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s top aide, Morgan McSweeney, resigned on Sunday amidst controversy surrounding the selection of Peter Mandelson as the United Kingdom’s ambassador to the United States, despite Mandelson’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein. McSweeney stated that he accepted responsibility for recommending Mandelson’s appointment, acknowledging that it was a mistake due to the damage it caused to their party, country, and overall trust in politics.

Starmer is currently under scrutiny and facing inquiries into his decision-making following the release of documents from the extensive Epstein files in the U.S. These documents suggested that Mandelson, while serving as the UK government’s business secretary during the 2008 financial crisis, had shared sensitive market information with Epstein, a convicted sex offender.

The government led by Starmer has committed to disclosing its own correspondence and records related to Mandelson’s nomination, asserting that Mandelson provided misleading information to officials. Despite being a former cabinet minister, ambassador, and prominent figure in the Labour Party, Mandelson has not been arrested or charged in connection with the allegations.

In a recent development, Metropolitan Police officers conducted searches at Mandelson’s London residence and a related property. The investigation is described as intricate and will necessitate a substantial amount of additional evidence collection and analysis.

Earlier, Starmer had dismissed Mandelson from his diplomatic role in September following initial revelations about his ties to Epstein. However, critics argue that the recently unveiled emails from the U.S. Justice Department have raised serious doubts about Starmer’s judgment, emphasizing that he should have exercised better discretion in appointing Mandelson originally.