British police have arrested Peter Mandelson, a former UK ambassador to the United States, as part of a misconduct investigation tied to his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The arrest follows days after Prince Andrew was similarly taken into custody over his links to the financier.
This development occurs amid the ongoing release of millions of pages of Epstein-related documents by the U.S. Justice Department. London's Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office. While the individual was not named, authorities identified the suspect as the former diplomat.
Mandelson is reportedly being investigated over claims he passed sensitive government information to Epstein approximately fifteen years ago. He faces no allegations of sexual misconduct.
The arrest of Mandelson comes just four days after Prince Andrew was detained on a similar suspicion. The former prince was released after 11 hours, with the investigation continuing.
Mandelson's ties to Epstein previously led to his dismissal from his diplomatic post in September, following the publication of emails that revealed he maintained contact with Epstein after the financier's 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor. The Epstein files suggest Mandelson shared potentially market-moving government information with Epstein in 2009, including details on raising funds after the 2008 financial crisis and potential lobbying efforts to reduce taxes on bankers' bonuses.
British police initiated a criminal probe earlier this month, searching two of Mandelson's residences. The investigation could impact Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership, as questions swirl around his judgment in appointing Mandelson.