Peter Mandelson Arrested in London Over Jeffrey Epstein Misconduct Investigation
BREAKING — Monday, February 23, 2026, 12:33 PM ET
Peter Mandelson, 72, the former British ambassador to the United States and one of the most senior figures in modern British political history, was arrested at his home in Camden, north London, Monday morning on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Officers from London's Metropolitan Police led Mandelson from his residence into an unmarked police vehicle following search warrants executed at two properties — one in Camden and one in Wiltshire. He has since been taken to a London police station for interview.
What Peter Mandelson Is Accused Of
Mandelson does not face any allegations of sexual misconduct. The criminal investigation centers entirely on whether he misused his position as a senior government official by allegedly passing sensitive state information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on multiple occasions between 2009 and 2010, while serving as Britain's Business Secretary.
Key allegations drawn from released documents include:
| Date | Alleged Action |
|---|---|
| June 2009 | Allegedly leaked a high-level Downing Street document on £20 billion in asset sales and Labour tax policy to Epstein |
| October 2009 | Epstein reportedly emailed Mandelson to "be nice to Sultan" — Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem — in connection with a DP World port project seeking government loan guarantees |
| May 9, 2010 | Allegedly gave Epstein advance notice of a €500 billion EU bailout package to stabilize the Euro |
| May 10, 2010 | Emailed Epstein with the words "finally got him to go today" — the same day Gordon Brown announced his resignation as prime minister |
| May 10, 2010 | Allegedly disclosed the existence of a classified underground tunnel between 10 Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence |
The Cabinet Office referred the relevant material to police on February 3, 2026, as the documents contained information characterized as market-sensitive.
The Epstein Connection: Timeline of Mandelson's Fall
Peter Mandelson's downfall accelerated rapidly over recent months. He was first fired from his role as UK Ambassador to the United States by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in September 2025, after emails emerged showing he had maintained a friendship with Epstein even after the financier's 2008 conviction for sex offenses involving a minor.
In January 2026, newly released U.S. Justice Department documents revealed that Mandelson and his husband Reinaldo da Silva had received at least $75,000 in payments from Epstein. Further documents showed Mandelson had lobbied government ministers to ease restrictions on bankers' bonuses at Epstein's request, and had separately lobbied the U.S. government in March 2010 to water down proposed restrictions on American bank trading activities on behalf of Epstein and banker Jes Staley.
On February 1, 2026, Mandelson resigned his membership of the Labour Party. Two days later, on February 3, he resigned his peerage and stepped down from the House of Lords. His advisory firm Global Counsel — which he co-founded in 2010 with Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, who resigned as CEO earlier this month — confirmed last week it is entering administration after clients severed ties over the Epstein revelations.
Arrest Comes Days After Prince Andrew's Arrest
Mandelson's arrest comes just days after the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office — also stemming from his own documented relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The two arrests represent an extraordinary escalation of the British Epstein fallout, with some of the United Kingdom's most prominent public figures now facing active criminal investigation.
What Happens Next
Before news broke of Peter Mandelson's arrest, the chief secretary to the prime minister told the Commons that the first tranche of documents related to Mandelson's appointment as U.S. ambassador is expected to be released in early March. That disclosure could produce additional revelations about the circumstances of his appointment and his conduct during his tenure.
Reform UK and the Scottish National Party had jointly reported Mandelson to the Metropolitan Police on February 2, 2026. The Metropolitan Police investigation is ongoing, and no charges have yet been filed. Under British law, an arrest on suspicion does not constitute a criminal charge.
