Documents released by the government show that Sir Keir Starmer was warned that Lord Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein posed a "general reputational risk" if he was appointed as the UK's ambassador to the US. The Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones, told MPs that the due diligence process had "fallen short of what was required". The BBC understands that Lord Mandelson maintains he did not act criminally or for personal gain.