Met Commissioner Urges US Counterparts for Full Epstein Files in Mandelson Investigation
Britain's top police officer is actively pressing United States authorities to share unredacted versions of the Jeffrey Epstein files as part of an ongoing investigation into claims that Lord Peter Mandelson leaked sensitive government information to the convicted paedophile. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley reportedly made formal requests last month to US Ambassador Warren Stephens for complete documentation relating to the Labour peer, who was dismissed from his position as UK ambassador to the United States following revelations about his friendship with Epstein.
International Cooperation Sought in High-Profile Probe
Sir Mark is expected to intensify pressure on American officials during an upcoming visit to Washington this week, according to multiple reports. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is actively seeking additional details from international law enforcement partners, including those in the United States. There are growing concerns that if American authorities refuse to cooperate voluntarily, formal legal requests for the emails and documents will need to be submitted under established international agreements between the two nations.
The formal process, known as a mutual legal assistance request, could potentially take up to a full year to complete, with no guarantee that the US Department of Justice will ultimately release the requested materials. This timeline presents significant challenges for investigators seeking to advance their case against the former government minister.
Dual Investigations into Public Figures
Police are currently investigating Lord Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office, while Thames Valley Police is conducting a separate but related probe into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for the same alleged offence. Both men were arrested and subsequently released on bail last month following the US Department of Justice's release of approximately three million documents relating to the late billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein.
However, substantial portions of these document exchanges have been redacted to protect victims' identities and avoid compromising ongoing investigations in multiple jurisdictions. The Metropolitan Police investigation specifically focuses on claims that Lord Mandelson passed market-sensitive information to Epstein during his tenure as business secretary in the UK government.
Documentary Evidence and Political Fallout
Emails from 2009, published within the Epstein files, have led to allegations that Lord Mandelson transmitted an assessment by one of then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown's advisers regarding potential policy measures. In connection with their investigation, police executed search warrants at two of Lord Mandelson's properties in the Wiltshire and Camden areas last month.
The 72-year-old peer, who was dismissed from his ambassadorial post last year and resigned from the House of Lords in January, has consistently denied any wrongdoing throughout the investigation. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced substantial political backlash over his decision to appoint the Labour grandee to the crucial diplomatic role, particularly given Lord Mandelson maintained his friendship with Epstein even after the financier's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Photographic Evidence and Royal Connection
The scandal has already claimed its first political casualty, with Morgan McSweeney resigning from his position as Starmer's chief of staff over the controversy. Documents released last week revealed that the prime minister had been warned about "general reputational risk" associated with Lord Mandelson's friendship with Epstein prior to the appointment.
In a separate development, the first known photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Jeffrey Epstein, and Lord Mandelson together was recently uncovered. The image, believed to have been taken at Martha's Vineyard between 1999 and 2000, shows the three men wearing bathrobes while drinking from mugs printed with the American flag.
Thames Valley Police continues to investigate Mr Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his role as a trade envoy. The royal was photographed leaving a police station in Aylsham, Norfolk, on February 19th after being released under investigation following extensive questioning.
Previously, US authorities had sent a mutual legal assistance request to the UK Home Office seeking Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's cooperation as an alleged witness to Epstein's criminal activities, highlighting the international dimensions of these interconnected investigations.
