UK police investigate former ambassador Peter Mandelson over Jeffrey Epstein leaks
The former UK ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, stepped down from the House of Lords and will be investigated by police over his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
British police are set to launch a criminal investigation into whether Peter Mandelson, Britain’s former ambassador to the United States, leaked government emails and market-sensitive information to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former government minister, for misconduct in public office offences,” London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
The reports of an investigation emerged after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Government handed material to the police to investigate whether Mandelson leaked information to Epstein during the financial crash.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Sir Keir told his ministers on Tuesday that Mr Mandelson’s alleged leaks to Epstein were “disgraceful.” A few hours later, Mr Mandelson said he would retire from Parliament’s upper house, the House of Lords.
Mr Mandelson, a major player in the Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown more than two decades ago, is facing possible criminal charges after emails released by the US as part of the Epstein investigation suggested he had leaked confidential government documents to the financier.
The Times newspaper, citing a government source, said officers were expected to interview Mr Mandelson and take statements from senior Labour figures, including Mr Brown.
The emails suggest that in 2009, Mr Mandelson sent Epstein a memo written for then-Prime Minister Brown about possible UK asset sales and tax changes, and in 2010 gave Epstein advance notice of a 500-billion-euro ($A843 billion) bailout by the European Union.
Mr Mandelson, 72, was fired from his ambassadorial role in September, seven months after being appointed, after documents emerged showing he had remained close to Epstein for much longer than he had previously acknowledged.
In one message, he appeared to tell Epstein that his earlier conviction, for procuring a child for prostitution, was wrong and he should fight for early release.
On Tuesday, Sir Keir told his cabinet that his government would cooperate with the police in any inquiries they carried out, adding he was not reassured that the totality of the information had yet emerged, according to his spokesperson.
His comments marked his strongest condemnation yet of the man he appointed ambassador to Washington last year despite his known association with Epstein, who committed suicide in prison in 2019.
“The Prime Minister said he was appalled by the information that had emerged over the weekend in the Epstein files,” his spokesperson said.
Late on Sunday, Mr Mandelson resigned from the Labour Party to prevent “further embarrassment”, after a new release of millions of documents exposed details of his closeness to Epstein, including suggestions of payments to Mr Mandelson and his husband.
Mr Mandelson has not responded to requests about the allegations. A spokesperson, however, has said Mr Mandelson had no recollection of financial payments, totalling $US75,000 ($A107,000), from Epstein, as suggested by other emails and media reports.
Asked about the situation at a meeting in Dubai on Tuesday, Prince Edward, Mountbatten-Windsor’s younger brother, said: “It’s really important always to remember the victims”, echoing previous statements from King Charles and Queen Camilla.
