The European Commission has referred Peter Mandelson to the European Anti-Fraud Office (Olaf) over allegations that he shared sensitive government information with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while serving as EU trade commissioner.
Mandelson, 72, served as trade commissioner from 2004 to 2008 and later as UK business secretary. Documents released by the US Department of Justice suggest he provided Epstein with details of a €500bn eurozone bailout in 2010. Mandelson denies any wrongdoing and was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, but was released on bail.
The commission asked Olaf to investigate on 18 February, citing the volume of new documents. Olaf confirmed the request but has not yet decided whether to open a formal probe.
Separately, Defence Secretary John Healey has ordered a review of military records to check if Epstein or his team used RAF airfields for his planes. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned that the state may have facilitated Epstein's crimes by allowing his private jet to land at bases, including a Norfolk airfield in December 2000.
The Metropolitan Police apologised to two parliamentary speakers after erroneously revealing that Lord Forsyth and Sir Lindsay Hoyle had tipped off police about Mandelson's alleged plans to flee to the British Virgin Islands, which his lawyers describe as “baseless”.
