British police investigating allegations that Prince Andrew and Peter Mandelson passed sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein are struggling to secure unredacted documents from the US, raising concerns that charges may not be brought. The US Department of Justice has told UK authorities it will not hand over original documents without a formal mutual legal assistance request, a lengthy bureaucratic process.
Thames Valley Police is investigating Prince Andrew for misconduct in public office over claims he passed sensitive material to Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy. The Metropolitan Police is investigating Mandelson for similar alleged misconduct while a cabinet minister. Both men have been arrested and released and deny wrongdoing.
Informal efforts, including by Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, to obtain the documents have failed. The Met has now submitted a formal request for the original, unredacted Epstein files. A source said: “It is difficult to make anything stick without those documents.” Another added: “It is very difficult for the Crown Prosecution Service to authorise prosecutions with the material as it is.”
Formal witness interviews in royal and government circles are expected to begin shortly. For Mandelson, this may include former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has written to the Met about his concerns. A national gold group, hosted by the National Police Chiefs Council, is coordinating efforts across forces.
Six police forces are also considering whether flights linked to Epstein that arrived at UK airports warrant criminal investigations into potential trafficking of women for abuse. The European anti-fraud office OLAF has confirmed it is investigating Mandelson’s time as EU trade commissioner.
