LONDON, United Kingdom – British police have arrested Peter Mandelson, a former ambassador to the United States, amid renewed scrutiny of his past relationship with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, authorities said on Thursday.
The Metropolitan Police said officers had arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The statement did not identify Mandelson by name, in accordance with British policing practice, but confirmed that the suspect was taken to a London police station for questioning.
Police said the arrest followed search warrants executed at two addresses in Wiltshire and the Camden area of London.
The development comes weeks after the United States Department of Justice released a large tranche of documents related to Epstein, including emails that appeared to show the sharing of politically sensitive and market-related information.
In a brief statement, the Metropolitan Police said the arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct in public office “relating to a former government minister.”
Further details of the allegations were not provided.
Mandelson served as Britain’s ambassador to the United States from February to September 2025.
Earlier this month, on February 6, police searched two properties linked to him. Days before those searches, he stepped down as a member of the House of Lords.
Mandelson has denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
The arrest comes less than a week after the detention of Prince Andrew, who was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released under investigation.
Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after being stripped of his royal titles, has denied wrongdoing related to Epstein.
British authorities have said investigations connected to the Epstein files remain ongoing. The Metropolitan Police did not say whether further arrests were expected or when additional information might be released.
