Alastair Campbell

British political strategist, journalist, and author who served as Downing Street Press Secretary and Director of Communications under Prime Minister Tony Blair (1997-2003). Listed in Epstein's black book as 'Alistar Cambell' (misspelled) with the 10 Downing Street switchboard number (0207-930 4433) — not a personal number. Campbell has publicly described meeting Epstein once: while on a flight to New York, he sat near Ghislaine Maxwell, whom he knew from his journalism days at the Daily Mirror (owned by her father Robert Maxwell). Maxwell invited him to meet her 'boyfriend' at his New York townhouse that evening. Campbell described Epstein as performing an 'Olympic gold medal performance in name-dropping' and said Epstein appeared to be trying to impress Tony Blair's inner circle. He noted that Maxwell 'disappeared for a couple of hours' after making introductions. Campbell stated he 'neither saw nor heard anything to make me think Epstein was a paedophile' but was 'quite glad to get out of there.' He explained the Downing Street number in the black book by saying he likely left a business card rather than a personal number. Currently co-hosts The Rest is Politics podcast. Tony Blair, Peter Mandelson, and Campbell all appear in the black book.