Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid a Metropolitan Police investigation into whether sensitive government information was passed to Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement issued just after 2 a.m., the Metropolitan Police said a 72-year-old man “arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released on bail pending further investigation.” The force said the man was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, Feb. 23, and taken to a London police station for interview. “We are not able to provide further information at this stage to prevent prejudicing the integrity of the investigation,” a spokesperson added.
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Footage showed Mr. Mandelson being led from his home by a plain-clothes officer. Police previously searched two of his properties in connection with the allegations, which surfaced after the U.S. Department of Justice released a tranche of materials related to Epstein last month.
The former Labour minister has been accused of passing sensitive information to the convicted sex offender during his time as business secretary. As part of the so-called “Epstein files,” emails from 2009 appear to show Mr. Mandelson relaying an assessment by then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s adviser on potential policy measures, including an “asset sales plan.” Other messages appear to discuss a possible tax on bankers’ bonuses, and one email suggests he confirmed an imminent eurozone bailout package a day before it was announced in 2010. The emails appeared to be sent after Epstein’s 2008 conviction.
Downing Street is expected to face questions as the political fallout widens. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is due to chair a Cabinet meeting today following the arrest, while the Liberal Democrats plan to push for the public release of files concerning Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a trade envoy. The former prince also faces accusations that he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time in the unpaid role between 2001 and 2011.
Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested days ago on suspicion of misconduct in public office and was released under investigation. Despite being stripped of his title last year, he remains eighth in line to the throne. It is understood the government will consider legislation addressing succession issues once police complete their investigation into the King’s brother.
Separately, lawmakers were told the first tranche of documents related to Mr. Mandelson’s appointment as U.S. ambassador is expected to be published in early March, although some correspondence between Downing Street and the peer will be delayed “because of the Metropolitan Police interest,” Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones said. The Cabinet Office has already referred material to police after an initial review of the Epstein files suggested “safeguards were compromised,” officials said. The Crown Prosecution Service is not understood to have offered early investigative advice at this stage.
Following the release of the Epstein files, Mr. Mandelson said he has “no recollection” of receiving payments totaling $75,000 from Epstein in 2003 and 2004, as bank details in the documents indicate. Epstein is also said to have paid for an osteopathy course for Mr. Mandelson’s husband, Reinaldo Avila Da Silva, in 2009, when the government was grappling with the financial crisis.
The Liberal Democrats intend to table a humble address in the House of Commons seeking to compel the government to disclose information about Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor’s time as trade envoy, echoing the mechanism used earlier to press for the release of files on Mr. Mandelson’s ambassadorial appointment.
Police have given no timeline for the next steps in the inquiry. Mr. Mandelson has not been charged and remains on bail pending further investigation.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
