British police arrest former ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson in probe into Epstein ties

By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter British police arrest former ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson in probe into Epstein ties World Feb 23, 2026 12:44 PM EST LONDON — British police on Monday arrested Peter Mandelson, a former U.K. ambassador to the United States, in a misconduct probe stemming from his ties with Jeffrey Epstein. London's Metropolitan Police force said "officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office" at an address in north London. He has been taken to a police station for questioning. READ MORE: UK police search two properties linked to Peter Mandelson as part of Epstein probe It did not name Mandelson, in keeping with British police practice, but the suspect in the case has previously been identified as the former diplomat, who is 72. Police are investigating Mandelson over claims he passed sensitive government information to Epstein a decade and a half ago. He does not face any allegations of sexual misconduct. His arrest comes four days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested in a separate case on suspicion of a similar offense related to his friendship with Epstein. Andrew was released after 11 hours in custody while the police investigation continues. Mandelson was fired from his diplomatic post in September after emails were published showing that he maintained a friendship with Epstein after the financier's 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor. When more details emerged in documents released by the U.S. Justice Department last month, police opened a criminal probe. The Epstein files suggest that Mandelson passed on sensitive — and potentially market-moving — government information to Epstein in 2009, when Mandelson was a member of the then-government. Officers subsequently searched Mandelson's two houses in London and western England....