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The UK government has agreed on a framework with police and the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) regarding the release of documents tied to the late 2024 appointment of former U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson. The move follows mounting pressure linked to Mandelson’s arrest and his reported connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a controversy that has intensified political scrutiny in Britain.
Mandelson, 72, was arrested by London’s Metropolitan Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Although he has since been released from custody, the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities also searched his properties in London and western England earlier this month. Police stress that an arrest does not imply guilt, only that officers suspect a potential offense.
The controversy has escalated into a broader political scandal, with critics calling for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign. Starmer dismissed Mandelson from his diplomatic post in September after details of his association with Epstein became public. Newly released emails from the U.S. Department of Justice in January revealed that Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein was closer than previously acknowledged. The correspondence indicated that Mandelson shared information with Epstein during his time as a minister under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2009.
The Intelligence and Security Committee confirmed it will independently determine which government documents related to Mandelson’s vetting and appointment will be made public. Material is currently being collected by the Cabinet Office, and the first batch of documents is expected to be released in early March. Officials emphasized that the committee, not the Prime Minister’s office, will have final authority over disclosures.
Separately, the European Union’s anti-fraud office, OLAF, is reviewing Mandelson’s conduct during his tenure as European Commissioner for Trade between 2004 and 2008. OLAF clarified that its review does not constitute a formal investigation and that the presumption of innocence applies.
Mandelson has previously expressed regret over his association with Epstein but has not commented on the latest developments. Meanwhile, separate allegations have also led to the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in an unrelated misconduct inquiry, further deepening political tensions in the UK.
