Peter Mandelson is now not on bail and launched beneath investigation after he was arrested and ‘had his passport confiscated’
Police have lifted Peter Mandelson‘s bail conditions and returned his passport after arresting him last month.
The Labour peer is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police over claims he leaked sensitive government documents to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as business secretary during the financial crisis.
Last month, the 72-year-old was arrested and had his passport confiscated after Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle passed information suggesting he was a flight risk.
He was released on bail early the following morning, with his lawyers dismissing the claim as ‘baseless’.
Today, the Metropolitan Police announced he has now been released under investigation. A spokesman said: ‘A 72-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released under investigation. The investigation remains ongoing.’
Mandelson – who was forced to resign as Sir Keir Starmer‘s ambassador to Washington over his links to Epstein – denies any wrongdoing.
His lawyers Mishcon de Reya said in a statement today: ‘In light of speculation following his arrest last week, we wish to clarify that the Metropolitan Police have removed all of Peter Mandelson’s bail conditions and returned his passport.
‘Our client did not and does not pose a flight risk and will continue to cooperate with the police investigation. He will not be making any further comment at this stage.’
Lord Mandelson pictured outside his London home on March 1
Mandelson and Epstein pictured on a yacht in a photo from the Epstein files
Mandelson was arrested on February 23 after Sir Lindsay passed on a tip that he was planning to flee to the British Virgin Islands.
Officers picked him up at around 4.30pm at his £7.6million Regent’s Park home, 17 days after searching his properties in London and Wiltshire.
The Epstein files have shown the peer sharing lewd and off-the-cuff messages with the late child abuser, including joking about ‘well-hung young men’ when he was a Cabinet minister.
He is also accused of sending market-sensitive information to the paedophile financier while he was business secretary under Gordon Brown.
Documents released by the US Department of Justice suggest information was leaked about potential policy measures, including an ‘asset sales plan’, a tax on bankers’ bonuses and a bailout package for the euro the day before it was announced in 2010.
The emails appeared to be sent to Epstein after he became a convicted sex offender.
Epstein is also said to have paid for an osteopathy course for Lord Mandelson’s husband, Reinaldo Avila Da Silva, in 2009, at the time the government was dealing with the financial crisis.
The former minister has denied breaking any laws or acting for personal gain.
Peter Mandelson (left) previously claimed he was ‘kept separate’ from the ‘sexual side’ of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein (right)
Andrew, 66, was arrested on February 19, his birthday, at Wood Farm on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office
Mandelson has repeatedly said he regrets the friendship, which continued after Epstein’s conviction for soliciting sex from a minor in 2008.
Last month, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested by Thames Valley Police for the same offence of misconduct in public office over claims he similarly passed sensitive information to Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.
He was held for 11 hours before being released under investigation by Thames Valley Police. He has not been charged and has previously denied all wrongdoing.
Andrew’s arrest came after the US Department of Justice released millions of Epstein-related files in January, including emails appearing to show Andrew forwarding confidential reports from his visits to Southeast Asia to the convicted sex offender while serving as Britain’s trade envoy.
King Charles III responded with a terse public statement, saying: ‘Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.’
Andrew had already been stripped of every royal title by October 2025. He surrendered the Duke of York title first, before Charles went further and formally removed his ‘Prince’ designation and ‘His Royal Highness’ style via Letters Patent.
He lost his Order of the Garter, his Royal Victorian Order, his place at Royal Lodge – where he had lived for over two decades – and his £1million annual allowance. He is now known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
