Mandelson arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office

Fortune

by Joe Mayes, Ellen Milligan, Bloomberg

February 23, 2026

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Peter Mandelson, a prominent Labour Party figure and former UK government minister, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest came after emails allegedly revealed that Mandelson shared potentially market-sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a UK government minister. Police confirmed the arrest, conducted in Camden, London, where Mandelson was taken for questioning following search warrants at two properties linked to him. Mandelson’s case has deepened a political crisis surrounding Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Critics have pointed out that Starmer appointed Mandelson as Britain’s ambassador to the US despite his known connections to Epstein. Following fresh revelations about Mandelson’s ties to Epstein, key members of Starmer’s team, including his chief of staff and cabinet secretary, resigned. The controversy has also prompted some Labour MPs to call for Starmer’s resignation. The arrest stems from a criminal investigation launched earlier this month after the US Department of Justice released 3 million pages of Epstein-related files. These documents allegedly showed Mandelson sharing internal government emails about tax policy proposals with Epstein in 2009, including one where he forwarded a memo to Epstein that was intended for Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Another email suggested Mandelson tipped Epstein off about Brown’s plans to resign as Labour leader and prime minister. The case has raised serious questions about the vetting process that preceded Mandelson’s appointment as US envoy in late 2024. During a parliamentary debate, Starmer conceded that Mandelson’s long-term relationship with Epstein was mentioned during the vetting process but claimed it did not “prohibit” his appointment. The government has been forced to release documents related to Mandelson’s appointment, though national security concerns and police requests to

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Originally published on Fortune on 2/23/2026