Mandelson's lawyers say he was arrested over 'baseless' claim he was a flight risk

Mandelson's lawyers say he was arrested over 'baseless' claim he was a flight risk

Former ambassador to the United States, Lord Mandelson, was taken into police custody at his London residence on Monday afternoon. His legal team has indicated that the Metropolitan Police acted out of concern he might abscond. However, they firmly deny any intentions on his part to leave the country permanently. The Metropolitan Police have declined to comment on the matter.

Lord Mandelson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. After spending approximately nine hours in Wandsworth police station, he was released on bail early Tuesday morning, with conditions that reportedly include surrendering his passport. His lawyers emphasized that the arrest came despite a prior agreement for him to attend a voluntary interview the following month and dismissed the claim that he planned to relocate abroad as “absolutely no truth whatsoever.” They also stated that he remains committed to cooperating fully with the investigation and clearing his name.

The investigation centers on allegations that during his tenure as a minister, Lord Mandelson passed sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted paedophile who is now deceased. Earlier in the week, search warrants were executed at two properties in Wiltshire and Camden as part of the ongoing inquiry. It is understood that Lord Mandelson denies any criminal misconduct or financial motivation related to the accusations.

Lord Mandelson has been a prominent figure in British politics for many years, playing a key role in the Labour Party’s rise, including in the New Labour movement and the 1997 landslide victory under Tony Blair. He was appointed UK ambassador to the US in February 2025 but was dismissed in September following revelations about his association with Epstein. The allegations intensified after the US Department of Justice released documents, including emails between Mandelson and Epstein. Notably, an email from 2009 suggests Mandelson shared an adviser’s assessment of policy plans with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, including discussions on asset sales, bankers’ bonuses, and a bailout package for the Eurozone that had not yet been announced

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