Former British ambassador and senior political figure Peter Mandelson has been released on bail following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to the ongoing Epstein investigation, the Metropolitan Police Service confirmed.
The 72-year-old was arrested on Monday at an address in Camden, north London, and taken to Wandsworth Police Station for questioning. Police later confirmed that he was released on bail pending further investigation. Witnesses told the BBC News that he returned to his London residence around 2:00 a.m. GMT.
Authorities stated that the arrest followed an investigation into allegations that, while serving as a government minister, Mandelson allegedly transmitted market-sensitive government information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Earlier this month, police executed search warrants at two properties in Wiltshire and Camden as part of the probe. Mandelson has not made a recent public statement regarding the Epstein-related files, but sources indicate he denies any criminal wrongdoing and maintains that his actions were not financially motivated.
Mandelson was appointed British ambassador to the United States in February 2025 but was removed from the position in September after the government disclosed that new information had emerged concerning the extent of his association with Epstein.
The government has indicated that the first set of documents relating to the appointment process may be released in early March, though officials have stressed that disclosure must be carefully managed to avoid interfering with the ongoing criminal investigation.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated that while the government remains committed to transparency, releasing sensitive documents could potentially compromise active police work.
“There is a live investigation, and it would be irresponsible to take any action that could jeopardise the important work being carried out,” she said, adding that authorities are working toward releasing relevant documents without undermining investigative efforts.
On Monday afternoon, plainclothes officers were seen escorting Mandelson from his home into an unmarked vehicle. The arrest was reportedly conducted by officers from the Met’s Central Specialist Crime Division, with consultations ongoing between the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
The allegations surfaced following the release of a batch of documents by the United States Department of Justice, including emails purportedly exchanged between Mandelson and Epstein.
One email dated 2009 allegedly showed Mandelson forwarding an assessment from a government adviser to then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown regarding policy proposals, including an “asset sales plan.” Other communications appeared to discuss potential taxation on bankers’ bonuses and a proposed Eurozone bailout package shortly before its public announcement in 2010.
Reacting to the arrest, relatives of the late Virginia Giuffre — who accused Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of sexual abuse — praised British authorities for taking action on the Epstein files, calling for greater transparency and accountability in investigations linked to the case.
Political reactions followed swiftly, with Kemi Badenoch describing the arrest as a defining moment in the current administration.
She criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer, claiming the government leader appeared politically weak and suggesting that the arrest of a high-profile diplomatic appointee would remain a significant political image.
Mandelson rose to prominence within the Labour Party during the 1980s and later played a key role in the Labour Party (UK)’s New Labour movement, contributing to the party’s landslide victory in the 1997 general election.
Authorities say consultations between investigators and prosecutors are ongoing as the case continues.
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