British police are conducting a formal assessment to determine whether former Labour Party politician Peter Mandelson should face a full criminal investigation over allegations he leaked sensitive government information to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The scrutiny follows the release of millions of pages of documents by the U.S. Justice Department, which have cast a harsh new light on the 72-year-old peer's connections.
Political Fallout and Parliamentary Status
The U.K. government is actively exploring avenues to expel Mandelson from Parliament and strip him of his noble title, Lord Mandelson, which accompanies his lifetime membership in the House of Lords. This move comes as pressure mounts following his resignation from the governing Labour Party on Sunday, a decision he stated was to prevent causing the party "further embarrassment."
Revelations from the Epstein Files
The newly disclosed trove of over 3 million pages contains detailed records of Mandelson's contacts with Epstein, some of which critics argue may constitute breaches of the law. Police authorities have confirmed they are reviewing reports of misconduct "to determine if they meet the criminal threshold for investigation."
Among the most significant findings are bank documents from 2003-2004 suggesting Epstein sent three payments totalling $75,000 to accounts linked either to Mandelson or his partner, Reinaldo Avila da Silva. Mandelson has publicly stated he does not recall receiving these funds and has pledged to investigate the authenticity of the documents.
Continued Association After Conviction
Emails and text messages reveal that Mandelson's friendship with Epstein persisted even after the financier's 2008 conviction. Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution, receiving an 18-month jail sentence.
In 2009, Epstein sent da Silva £10,000 (approximately $13,650 at current exchange rates) to cover the cost of an osteopathy course. Mandelson later told The Times of London that "in retrospect, it was clearly a lapse in our collective judgment for Reinaldo to accept this offer."
Alleged Government Information Sharing
The documents suggest Mandelson, while serving as Business Secretary in 2009, informed Epstein he would lobby other government members to reduce a tax on bankers' bonuses. That same year, he appears to have shared an internal government report with Epstein discussing potential methods for the U.K. to raise funds following the 2008 global financial crisis, including through the sale of government assets.
Mandelson accompanied this document with the note: "Interesting note that's gone to the PM." Furthermore, in 2010, he messaged Epstein about a "500 b euro bailout" being nearly complete, coinciding with the day European governments announced a 500 billion euro deal to support the single currency.
Government Response and Review
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has instructed the civil service to conduct an "urgent" review of all Mandelson's contacts with Epstein during his tenure in government. This review aims to comprehensively assess the nature and extent of their communications while Mandelson held official positions.
Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on U.S. federal charges accusing him of sexually abusing dozens of girls. An email requesting comment on the newly released documents was sent to Mandelson through the House of Lords communications channel.
