Former U.K. ambassador Peter Mandelson arrested amid Epstein link
· Toronto Sun
Peter Mandelson, a former U.K. Ambassador to the United States, was arrested Monday in a misconduct probe stemming from his ties with Jeffrey Epstein.
“Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” at a Camden address in north London, London’s Metropolitan Police force said in a statement.
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It did not name Mandelson, in accordance with British police’s standards, but the suspect in the case had previously been identified as the longtime politician.
London police confirmed earlier this month that it had launched a criminal investigation over allegations of misconduct in public office, following the release of emails by the U.S. Department of Justice, which led to accusations that Mandelson had sent information to Epstein more than 15 years ago, when he was business secretary under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
What did the emails show?
Released emails show that Epstein sent £10,000 to Mandelson’s partner, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, in 2009, according to documents released by the DOJ, the BBC reported.
Mandelson has not publicly commented in recent weeks on the Epstein files, but, according to the outlet, he has maintained that he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain.
Police searched properties in Wiltshire and north London earlier this month after the force launched a probe into the ex-Labour minister on Feb. 3 over allegations he sent sensitive information to Epstein.
He does not face any allegations of sexual misconduct.
The specifics behind Mandelson’s arrest are unclear.
Starmer’s apology
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued an apology to victims of Epstein over Mandelson’s appointment as Britain’s ambassador to the U.S.
“I am sorry. Sorry for what was done to you. Sorry that so many people with power failed you. Sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him,” Starmer said, speaking directly to Epstein’s victims. “And sorry that even now you’re forced to watch this story unfold in public once again.”
“He portrayed Epstein as someone he barely knew,” Starmer added. “None of us knew the depth and the darkness of that relationship. Information now available makes clear the answers he gave were lies.”
Who is Lord Mandelson?
Mandelson started working for the Labour Party in the 1980s, and played a key role in the New Labour movement and Tony Blair’s election win in 1997.
He was appointed the U.K.’s ambassador to Washington in December 2024, but was removed from the role last September after new information from his friendship with the late convicted sex offender emerged.
Mandelson eventually stepped down from the House of Lords after the release of the Epstein files, however parliamentary procedure allows him to retain his title.