Former British ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after being arrested in London on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following fresh revelations about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson, 72, was dismissed from his diplomatic post in September after details emerged about the depth of his friendship with Epstein. Earlier this month, police opened a criminal investigation after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government handed over communications between the former ambassador and the financier.
“Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement referring to an investigation involving a former government minister.
Mandelson was seen leaving his central London home on Monday afternoon accompanied by plainclothes officers wearing body cameras before being driven away. In a later update, police confirmed he had been released on bail pending further inquiries. He returned home around 0200 GMT.
An arrest indicates that police suspect an offence may have been committed but does not imply guilt. Mandelson’s lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Emails released in late January by the U.S. Department of Justice revealed a closer relationship between Mandelson and Epstein than previously acknowledged. The correspondence showed Mandelson had shared information with Epstein while serving as a minister in former Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s government in 2009.
Mandelson, who resigned from Starmer’s Labour Party earlier this month and stepped down from the House of Lords, has previously said he “very deeply” regretted his association with Epstein. He has not publicly addressed the latest developments.
Police also conducted searches at properties linked to Mandelson in London and western England.
“He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February and has been taken to a London police station for interview,” police said.
“This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.”
The case forms part of a wider political controversy in Britain tied to Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. A conviction for misconduct in public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and would be tried in a Crown Court.
Prime Minister Starmer has faced mounting criticism over Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador, with lawmakers demanding the release of documents related to the vetting process. A government minister confirmed that initial documents are expected to be published in early March. Starmer has said Mandelson misrepresented the extent of his ties to Epstein during vetting.
Mandelson has had a long and often controversial political career. He rose to prominence in the 1990s as a key architect of Tony Blair’s New Labour project but resigned twice from cabinet roles, first in 1998 over an undisclosed home loan, and again in 2001 amid allegations he attempted to influence a passport application. He later returned to government under Gordon Brown between 2008 and 2010.
Appointed ambassador to Washington in late 2024, Mandelson initially secured diplomatic praise after Britain became the first country to reach a deal with the United States to reduce some of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. However, his tenure ended months later after disclosures about his connections to Epstein resurfaced.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
