The Metropolitan Police have formally launched a criminal investigation into allegations that former business secretary Peter Mandelson leaked Downing Street emails and market-sensitive information to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The probe follows the release of court documents from the Epstein files, which appear to show Mandelson passing confidential details of internal government discussions to the late financier after the 2008 financial crash.
Detectives are expected to interview Mandelson and request access to his devices, as well as take witness statements from senior Labour figures, including former prime minister Gordon Brown, and civil servants from the period. The Met will also seek unredacted copies of the emails from the US administration, amid concerns Mandelson used a private BT internet email address to correspond with government officials.
Scotland Yard confirmed on Tuesday night that Mandelson is being investigated on suspicion of misconduct in public office, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Met Commander Ella Marriott stated: 'Following the further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice, the Met received a number of reports into alleged misconduct in public office, including a referral from the UK government. I can confirm that the Metropolitan police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former government minister, for misconduct in public office offences.'
Mandelson has said he cannot recall receiving $75,000 from Epstein, which appears in bank statements in the document tranche, and has questioned the veracity of some documents. He resigned from the House of Lords on Tuesday afternoon. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Mandelson had 'let his country down', adding that the public seeing politicians claim they cannot recall receiving significant sums was 'gobsmacking'. Starmer has ordered a dossier to be handed to police and asked officials to draft legislation to strip Mandelson of his peerage.
The scandal has also raised questions about Starmer's decision to appoint Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington, with his chief of staff Morgan McSweeney facing blame from some MPs. Government insiders fear the prime minister may be vulnerable, and the foreign affairs committee has discussed whether McSweeney could be called to give evidence. A government official said the internal Whitehall investigation would likely rely on the police inquiry, adding: 'If you look at the ways the emails were forwarded, nothing short of a full search of his devices is going to find the answers.'
