Peter Mandelson, the former Labour cabinet minister and recently appointed U.K. ambassador to the United States, was arrested Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office following renewed scrutiny over his past dealings with Jeffrey Epstein, according to the BBC and London's Metropolitan Police.
The 72-year-old was later released on bail pending further investigation. In a statement that did not name him, police said: "A 72-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released on bail pending further investigation. This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas."
The arrest marks a dramatic turn for a figure once central to modern Labour politics and most recently entrusted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer with representing Britain in Washington. Mandelson was appointed ambassador in December 2024. His tenure came under strain after a tranche of Epstein-related documents was released in September 2025, revealing email exchanges between the two men.
One of those exchanges concerned Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a child for prostitution. According to The Guardian, Mandelson indicated at the time that he believed the conviction was unjust and signaled support for early release. In a 2025 interview with Harry Cole Saves the West, Mandelson reflected on that judgment, stating: "I relied on assurances of his innocence that turned out later to be horrendously false." He added, "His lawyers claimed that it was a shakedown, a criminal conspiracy. I foolishly relied on their word, which I regret to this day."
Further document releases this February intensified scrutiny. The newly surfaced material reportedly suggests Mandelson shared market-sensitive information with Epstein during his tenure as business secretary. That disclosure triggered a criminal investigation and mounting political pressure, leading Mandelson to step down from the House of Lords.
Financial questions have also resurfaced. A Guardian report last month detailed payments from Epstein beginning in 2009 to Reinaldo Avila da Silva, described as including:
- £10,000 for osteopathy school fees and anatomical models
- Monthly transfers of $2,000
The transfers began two months after Epstein's release from prison. The Guardian reported that Mandelson allegedly instructed Epstein to structure the payments to appear as a loan in order to avoid gift tax filings. Mandelson has denied wrongdoing and maintained he was not motivated by financial gain.
Video footage of Mandelson's arrest was broadcast by Sky News, underscoring the public visibility of a case that intersects British politics, U.S. legal disclosures and longstanding concerns about Epstein's global network.
Under British law, individuals arrested on suspicion of an offense are not formally charged unless prosecutors determine sufficient evidence exists. Misconduct in public office, a common law offense, can carry severe penalties if proven, including potential imprisonment.
