Lord Peter Mandelson has been released from police bail conditions, with his passport returned. He remains under investigation for alleged misconduct in public office. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the shift from bail to "released under investigation" status, indicating he is no longer considered a flight risk by authorities.
The former minister was arrested last month on suspicion of passing sensitive market information to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. His lawyers stated on Friday that all bail conditions have been removed and his passport has been returned.
The circumstances surrounding his initial arrest, which involved information passed to the police by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, have also drawn attention. Police have reportedly apologized to Sir Lindsay after disclosing that he was the source of claims suggesting Lord Mandelson was a flight risk.
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The investigation itself is ongoing, stemming from allegations that surfaced after the US Department of Justice released documents, including emails between Lord Mandelson and Epstein. The arrest and subsequent release from bail occurred amidst ongoing scrutiny of individuals connected to Epstein and the handling of sensitive information.
Background:Lord Mandelson, a prominent figure in British politics and a former Business Secretary, was arrested on February 23rd. He was initially released on bail, a condition that included the confiscation of his passport. His legal team had previously dismissed claims of him being a flight risk as "baseless." The controversy has also touched upon the political sphere, with questions raised about what was known regarding his relationship with Epstein at the time of certain appointments.