Former British minister Lord Peter Mandelson has resigned from the ruling Labour Party following renewed controversy over his alleged links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision came after the US Department of Justice released millions of new documents related to Epstein, which reportedly included Mandelson’s name. He stated that he did not want to place the party in an embarrassing position and announced his resignation soon after the files were made public last Friday.

According to reports, the newly released documents claim that Epstein paid Mandelson a total of 75,000 US dollars in three installments during 2003 and 2004. Mandelson had previously been removed from his position as British ambassador to the United States last year over similar allegations. In a letter to the Labour Party’s general secretary, he expressed regret that his name had again been linked to the scandal.

Mandelson denied the allegations, saying he had no record or memory of any financial dealings with Epstein nearly 20 years ago and called for an investigation into the matter.