The ghost of Jeffrey Epstein continues to haunt the corridors of global power, and this time, the trail leads to the heart of a sovereign democracy. Explosive new files released today reveal that Peter Mandelson, the former UK Labour heavyweight, was actively communicating with the disgraced financier about a campaign to undermine Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s mining tax in 2010.

The emails, dating from June 2010, expose the terrifying reach of the global elite. Mandelson, then a powerful figure in British politics, forwarded internal industry strategy documents to Epstein, including analysis from Xstrata CEO Mick Davis. His message was chillingly simple: "pressure needs to be maintained." Two weeks later, Kevin Rudd was deposed in a party coup, and the mining tax—a policy designed to redistribute wealth to the Australian people—was effectively dead.

The Shadow Government

This revelation is a smoking gun for conspiracy realists. It suggests that the removal of a democratically elected leader was not just a matter of domestic politics but was cheered on, and perhaps coordinated, by a transnational network of power brokers and predators. Epstein’s interest in Australian tax policy is bizarre on the surface but makes perfect sense in the context of global capital: nothing threatens the elite more than a government that tries to tax their profits.

Mandelson’s role is particularly damning. As a UK minister, his involvement in the destabilization of an Australian government policy raises questions about sovereignty and treason. Why was he reporting to Epstein? What did Epstein stand to gain? The "Epstein Files" are peeling back the skin of the establishment to reveal the rot underneath.

• The Mining Lobby: The Australian mining industry launched a $22 million ad campaign against Rudd. We now know this public assault was backed by private, high-level maneuvering involving global figures.
• The Labour connection: Mandelson resigned from the Labour party this week as the heat turned up. His legacy is now irrevocably tainted by his association with a pedophile ringleader and his role as a fixer for corporate interests.

Democracy for Sale

For Australians, this is a reopening of old wounds. The "mining coup" of 2010 changed the trajectory of the nation. To learn that it was discussed in the email inboxes of Jeffrey Epstein adds a layer of sordidness to a national tragedy. It is a reminder that in the high-stakes game of global resources, voters are often just spectators.

The files are still being parsed, and more names may fall. But the Mandelson-Epstein connection proves one thing: the swamp is global, and it is deep.