LONDON (AP) — British police arrested former British ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson on Monday as part of a misconduct investigation stemming from his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
“Police arrested a 72-year-old man at an address in north London on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” the Metropolitan Police said. He has been taken to the police station for questioning.
In accordance with British police practice, the newspaper did not name Mandelson, but the suspect in the case had previously been identified as the 72-year-old former diplomat.
Police are investigating Mandelson over allegations he passed sensitive government information to Epstein fifteen years ago. He has not faced any charges of sexual misconduct.
Four days ago, former Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in a separate case on suspicion of similar offenses related to his friendship with Epstein. Andrew was released after 11 hours in custody while police inquiries continue.
Mandelson was fired in September after emails revealed that he maintained a friendship with Epstein after the financier was convicted in 2008 of sex crimes involving minors. Police launched a criminal investigation when more details emerged from documents released by the U.S. Justice Department last month.
Epstein’s documents show that Mandelson passed sensitive and potentially market-moving government information to Epstein in 2009, when Mandelson was still a member of the administration.
Police subsequently searched Mandelson’s two homes in London and west England.
The decision to appoint Mandelson nearly cost Starmer his job, as his judgment was called into question for a man whose decades-long political career has been marked by controversy.
Starmer’s position remains precarious despite admitting he made mistakes and apologizing to Epstein’s victims. His future may depend on the release of documents related to Mandelson’s appointment.
