UK authorities detained former ambassador Peter Mandelson on Monday (23) on suspicion of misconduct in public office, amid an investigation into the provision of confidential official information to the late American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, convicted of sexual crimes.
According to the broadcaster, BBC, he was taken from his home in Camden, north London, this afternoon. The press at the scene watched him being driven by plainclothes police officers.
The United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement that they arrested a 72-year-old man at his home in the London neighborhood of Camden – without disclosing the person’s name. According to the note, the arrest occurred after searches were carried out in recent days at two properties: one in the British capital and the other in the English county of Wiltshire.
Mandelson served as a minister in previous Labor governments and as European Trade Commissioner between 2004 and 2008. He was appointed ambassador to the US in February 2015 by the current prime minister, Keir Starmer, and dismissed seven months later when the extent of his ties to Epstein came to light.
The Briton’s arrest comes days after Thames Valley Police detained former Prince Andrew, brother of King Charles III, for questioning on the same charge of misconduct in public office. The former Duke of York was later released while the investigation continues.
What authorities are investigating about Peter Mandelson
The former ambassador began being investigated on February 3 after the release of new files on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Initially, police investigated allegations that he had passed on sensitive government market information to the late financier during the period in which he held ministerial positions in the government of Labor Prime Minister Gordon Brown, amid the 2008 financial crisis.
