The arrest of Peter Mandelson has intensified the international fallout from the ongoing Epstein files probe, placing one of Britain’s most influential political figures under formal criminal investigation.
London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 72-year-old man was detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office following the release of millions of documents tied to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Although authorities did not name Mandelson in accordance with British legal practice, the arrest follows weeks of mounting scrutiny over his past association with Epstein.
“Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” the force said in a statement. He was transported to a London police station for questioning. Police added that the arrest “relating to a former government minister” came after search warrants were executed at properties in Wiltshire and Camden.
The investigation gained momentum after the U.S. Department of Justice released a substantial tranche of Epstein-related materials. Among them are 2009 emails that appear to show Mandelson sharing assessments of potential policy measures, discussing a planned tax on bankers’ bonuses, and referencing an imminent eurozone bailout package before its public announcement.
Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.
His detention comes just days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor became the first royal taken into police custody in modern British history. Authorities said emails appeared to show him sharing confidential information with Epstein while serving as a trade envoy. Thames Valley Police confirmed searches at Royal Lodge in Windsor continued into a fifth day, while a separate search at Sandringham concluded Thursday.
The political implications are significant for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had appointed Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the United States earlier this year. Mandelson served in that diplomatic role between February and September 2025 before stepping down from the House of Lords amid intensifying scrutiny.
Starmer recently stated that Mandelson had “lied repeatedly” about the extent of his past contact with Epstein. The controversy has added to broader pressure on the government, which is already facing declining approval ratings and economic headwinds tied to cost-of-living concerns.
Mandelson’s political career spans decades. Rising through the ranks of the Labour Party in the 1980s, he became a key strategist behind Tony Blair’s 1997 election landslide. He later served in cabinet roles under both Blair and Gordon Brown, though he resigned twice over separate controversies before being appointed to the House of Lords in 2008.
Previously released documents showed Mandelson referred to Epstein as “my best pal” in a 2003 birthday book. Financial records within the files also appear to indicate that Epstein transferred $75,000 in three payments to accounts linked to Mandelson or his then-partner in 2003 and 2004. Mandelson has told the BBC he had no recollection of receiving the funds and questioned the authenticity of the records.
Court records confirm Epstein pleaded guilty in June 2008 to charges of solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of prostitution with a minor under 18, receiving an 18-month sentence in a minimum-security facility. Authorities have clarified that Mandelson’s arrest is not connected to those sex-related charges but instead centers on alleged misconduct in public office.
The widening probe has reverberated far beyond Britain. Other high-profile figures named in the files include Thorbjørn Jagland, former executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corp. Tom Pritzker, and former White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler.
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