The European Commission has referred Peter Mandelson to the European Anti-Fraud Office (Olaf) over allegations that he shared sensitive government information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The commission said it took action after the US Department of Justice released documents suggesting Mandelson, while serving as EU trade commissioner between 2004 and 2008, passed details of a €500bn eurozone bailout to Epstein.
Mandelson, 72, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office but was released on bail hours later. He has denied any wrongdoing, and his lawyers described claims that he was planning to flee the country as 'baseless'. He is understood to have surrendered his passport.
Defence Secretary John Healey has ordered a review of over 20 years of military records for any evidence that Epstein or his associates booked RAF airfields for his planes. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned that the British state may have facilitated Epstein's crimes by allowing his private jet to land at its bases, including a flight to Norfolk in 2000.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police apologised to two parliamentary speakers after erroneously naming Lord Speaker Michael Forsyth as the person who tipped off police about Mandelson. The force had earlier apologised to Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle for inadvertently revealing information about the arrest.
