Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to the United States, was arrested on the afternoon of Feb. 23 local time on suspicion of misconduct in public office, London's Metropolitan Police has announced. Mandelson has been taken to a police station in London for questioning.
Mandelson, 72, was removed from his post as UK ambassador to Washington last September after his close ties with the late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein came to light.
The Metropolitan Police earlier this month confirmed they had launched an investigation into Mandelson over alleged misconduct while serving in public office. Mandelson held senior cabinet positions under former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, including serving as Business Secretary. In February 2025, current Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed him as ambassador to the US, but Mandelson was dismissed by Starmer after just seven months when details of his Epstein connections emerged.
Mandelson had previously referred to Epstein as his "best friend" in a birthday letter. Documents released last month revealed that between 2003 and 2004, Mandelson and his partner allegedly received three transfers from Epstein totaling US$75,000. In 2009, while serving as Business Secretary, he allegedly forwarded an economic briefing intended for then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown to Epstein, containing internal discussions about the UK government's asset sales and fundraising efforts following the 2008 global financial crisis. In May 2010, he also allegedly tipped off Epstein in advance about the EU's forthcoming €500 billion eurozone rescue package.
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