Lord Peter Mandelson, a prominent former British government minister and ex-ambassador to the United States, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest is linked to allegations that he passed market-sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender, during his time as a government minister. The Metropolitan Police confirmed a 72-year-old man was taken for interview following the arrest.
Details of the Investigation and Arrest
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of Lord Mandelson on Monday. He was taken to a London police station for questioning. The investigation was launched earlier this month, following the release of documents by the US Department of Justice. These documents included emails between Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein.
Search warrants were executed at two addresses in Wiltshire and Camden.
Lord Mandelson has been under investigation for allegedly sharing confidential government information with Epstein.
This alleged information was reportedly market-sensitive and was shared while Lord Mandelson served as a government minister.
Key Actors and Timeline
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Lord Peter Mandelson | Former UK Cabinet Minister, Former UK Ambassador to the US, Arrested |
| Jeffrey Epstein | Deceased convicted sex offender; subject of investigation |
| Metropolitan Police | Investigating force, executed arrest |
| US Department of Justice | Released documents leading to the current investigation |
| Virginia Giuffre | Epstein accuser; her family has reacted to the arrest |
| Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor | Formerly Prince Andrew; also arrested and questioned in a separate Epstein-related case |
| Keir Starmer | British Prime Minister; previously sacked Mandelson as ambassador |
The current investigation appears to stem from disclosures made after the US Department of Justice released a batch of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein last month. Lord Mandelson was reportedly fired from his role as UK ambassador in September following revelations about his relationship with Epstein.
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Evidence and Allegations
The central allegation is that Lord Mandelson, while serving as a government minister, provided market-sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein. This claim is based on emails that have emerged following the US Department of Justice's release of documents.
The core of the investigation concerns alleged leaks of market-sensitive government information.
Lord Mandelson has previously denied any wrongdoing.
There are reports that Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated Lord Mandelson had lied about the extent of his ties to Epstein during the vetting process for his ambassadorship.
Emails reportedly show Lord Mandelson discussing potential land and property sales with Epstein.
Another email chain indicates Lord Mandelson stating he had just left the prime minister's office and would call Epstein.
Mandelson's Prior Roles and Resignation
Lord Mandelson has been a significant figure in the Labour Party for decades. He served in senior government roles and was later appointed as the UK's ambassador to the United States.
He was elevated to the House of Lords after a long career in public life.
His appointment as ambassador reportedly followed a vetting process.
He was sacked as ambassador in September after new details emerged regarding his connections to Epstein.
Reports indicate Lord Mandelson resigned from the House of Lords following the release of the Epstein files.
Parallel Investigations
Lord Mandelson's arrest follows closely on the heels of the detention of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, who was also arrested and briefly detained in a separate case linked to his own connections with Jeffrey Epstein. Both cases involve investigations into potential misconduct in public office.
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested last week on suspicion of a similar offence.
He was later released.
The timing of Mandelson's arrest, shortly after Mountbatten-Windsor's, has drawn attention.
Reactions
The family of Virginia Giuffre, a prominent accuser of Jeffrey Epstein, have reacted to Lord Mandelson's arrest, stating it is "absolutely right that Mandelson is arrested for questioning."
Conclusion and Next Steps
Lord Mandelson's arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny following the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. The allegations of misconduct in public office, specifically concerning the alleged transfer of market-sensitive government information, are now the subject of a formal police investigation.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed the arrest and stated Lord Mandelson was taken for interview.
Further details regarding the scope and evidence of the investigation are expected to emerge.
Lord Mandelson's past denials of wrongdoing remain on record.
The investigation is likely to explore the extent and nature of his communications with Jeffrey Epstein during his time in public office.
Sources Used
BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8xy5jzrrxzo - Published 1 day ago, provides an overview of the arrest and the core allegations.
ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/International/lord-peter-mandelson-arrested-suspicion-misconduct-public-office/story?id=130417766 - Published 1 day ago, confirms arrest details and notes Mandelson's former role as UK ambassador.
The Independent: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/peter-mandelson-arrest-live-updates-b2925990.html - Published 1 hour ago, offers live updates and mentions reactions from Virginia Giuffre's family.
CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/epstein-files-peter-mandelson-london-uk.html - Published 7 hours ago, details the investigation into market-sensitive information and notes the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
TIME: https://time.com/7380534/peter-mandelson-arrested-epstein-files-fallout/ - Published 6 hours ago, highlights the arrest amid Epstein file fallout and Mandelson's sacking as ambassador.
The Indian Express: https://www.indianexpress.com/article/world/peter-mandelson-arrested-london-jeffrey-epstein-misconduct-public-office-case-10548178/ - Published 7 hours ago, reiterates the grounds for arrest and the link to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The Sydney Morning Herald: https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/ex-british-cabinet-minister-lord-peter-mandelson-arrested-amid-epstein-probe-20260224-p5o4ug.html - Published 6 hours ago, elaborates on the investigation into confidential government information and quotes alleged email content.
