Peter Mandelson was arrested by London police on suspicion of misconduct in public office after investigators opened a probe into his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the Metropolitan Police said. Officers arrested a 72 year old man at an address in north London and took him to a police station for questioning, the force said.
The arrest followed searches of Mandelson’s two houses in London and western England as part of a criminal inquiry into claims he passed sensitive government information to the late financier a decade and a half ago. Police said the suspect could be charged, released or released while investigations continue, and that a suspect can be held up to 24 hours, extendable to a maximum of 96 hours.
Investigators are examining messages and documents that, as reported by the U.S. Justice Department, were included among a large trove of Epstein related files recently released by the department. Those files appear to show Mandelson passed an internal government report discussing options to raise money after the global financial crisis, including selling government assets, and told Epstein he would lobby colleagues to reduce a tax on bankers’ bonuses.
The arrest came days after the former Prince Andrew was arrested in a separate case on suspicion of a similar offense related to his friendship with Epstein. Police said Mandelson does not face allegations of sexual misconduct in this inquiry, which focuses on whether government information was improperly shared.
Background And Political Fallout
Mandelson served in senior government roles in earlier Labour administrations and was appointed UK ambassador to the US until the prime minister dismissed him after emails were published showing he maintained a friendship with Epstein after the financier’s conviction. He resigned from the House of Lords recently but retains the title Lord Mandelson.
As a prominent Labour figure he has long drawn strong views, with critics naming him the Prince of Darkness and supporters citing his political skills. He has twice left government in past controversies and returned to senior roles, and he later served as the EU’s trade commissioner, a record noted by colleagues and former ministers.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been assisting police with inquiries, the account said, and the arrest may complicate the government’s plan to release files tied to Mandelson’s appointment. Officials and political leaders are watching how the probe unfolds, including potential impacts on recent trade work Mandelson helped secure.
