Law

UK's ex-ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, arrested in the wake of Epstein emails

Peter Mandelson
Peter Mandelson was arrested in London after having already quit his position as ambassador to the US over his ties to Epstein. JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images
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Peter Mandelson, the United Kingdom's former Ambassador to the United States, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on Monday in the continued fallout over the Epstein files.

The police confirmed they had arrested a 72-year-old "former government minister" on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following search warrants at two addresses, including Camden. The description matches that of Mandelson.

Documents released by the Department of Justice in January showed Mandelson sharing sensitive government information with Jeffrey Epstein.

In emails sent while Mandelson was a government minister, the politician forwarded internal memos to Epstein, tipping him off about changes in tax rules, the sale of government assets during the UK financial crisis, and the European Union's bailout of Greece's economy.

The documents also contain a record of Epstein sending money to Mandelson's husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva.

Last year, he was fired as ambassador after more about his ties to Epstein became public, and he subsequently left the British Labour Party.

Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Police announced an investigation into Mandelson.

Mandelson has denied any illegal activity and told The Times of London that his husband's acceptance of funds from Epstein reflected "a lapse in our collective judgment."

Last week, King Charles' younger brother, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over government documents he shared with Epstein. The former prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has denied wrongdoing.

The scandal around Mandelson has grown to affect Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has faced backlash for appointing Mandelson to the ambassador position in 2024, despite knowing about his ties to Epstein. Several of Starmer's senior staff members have quit over the revelations.

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Madeline Berg
Madeline Berg is a correspondent at Business Insider, where she covers the wealthy, famous, and powerful. Her stories include analyses of some of the most well known billionaires, from Mark Zuckerberg to MrBeast, investigations into celebrity brands, and deep dives into figures like Jeffrey Epstein and Leon Black.Previously, she was at Forbes. Her work included cover stories on Tyler Perry and Shonda Rhimes, investigations into Kylie Jenner's beauty brand, and deep dives into Britney Spears' fortune. Madeline has also written for The New York Times, The New York Observer, and Racked. She regularly appears on panels, on television, and in documentaries discussing the entertainment industry and general business news.Contact her via email at mberg@insider.com or by phone, Signal, or WhatsApp at 914-420-4721. https://www.bjinnox.com/secure-news-tips.