Epstein paid for ex-Hartlepool MP's husband to do course

The emails were among more than three million documents published by the US Department of Justice on Friday as part of the so-called “Epstein files”.

They showed exchanges between Epstein and Reinaldo Avila da Silva, the husband of the former UK ambassador to the US, about paying a fee for him to attend the British School of Osteopathy.

On September 7 2009, Mr Avila da Silva sent Epstein a message saying: “I sent you a couple of emails last week regarding my osteo course expenses, incl fee, anatomical models, lap top if you can help me with this. I hope you received them.

“I just managed to speak to the fees office at the osteo school and confirmed that my annual fee is of £3,225.”

He then explains the school accepts bank transfer and provides the account details before thanking Epstein for “anything you can help me with”.

The financier replied later the same day: “I will wire your loan amount immediated’y (sic).”

Mr Avila da Silva followed up with a further email which makes reference to a £10,000 transfer.

He said: “Just sent an email back to Rich regarding the £10,000 with my personal bank details.

“I would like to clarify if this amount includes my school fees or if the amount of £3,225 (school fee) will be sent directly to the school itself.”

Epstein told him: “includedd (sic)” before Mr Avila da Silva sent him another email days later thanking him for the cash.

“Just a brief note to thank you for the money which arrived in my account this morning,” he wrote.

The newly surfaced exchanges follow Lord Mandelson’s apology earlier this month to the victims of Epstein for remaining friends with the paedophile financier after his conviction.

Epstein had pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor, but Lord Mandelson said he believed his excuses and continued to support him.

In a statement released on January 12 to the BBC’s Newsnight, the politician said: “I was wrong to believe him following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards.

“I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered.”

He has sought to distance himself from Epstein but emails have revealed the extent of their friendship even after the conviction.

Emails showed he told Epstein to “fight for early release” shortly before he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

He is also reported to have told Epstein “I think the world of you” the day before the disgraced financier began his jail sentence.

Lord Mandelson, who was MP for Hartlepool from 1992 to 2004, has suggested Epstein excluded him from the “sexual side” of his life because he was gay.

The Press Association approached Lord Mandelson for comment on Friday and he responded with the following statement, which is the same one he gave to BBC Newsnight after he appeared on the programme earlier this month.

He said: “I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards. I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered.

“I was never culpable or complicit in his crimes. Like everyone else I learned the actual truth about him after his death.

“But his victims did know what he was doing, their voices were not heard and I am sorry I was amongst those who believed him over them.”

Lord Mandelson was stripped of his Freedom of the Borough of Hartlepool by the council after his involvement with Epstein.