Lord Mandelson Released On Bail Amid Escalating Epstein Misconduct Probe

LONDON — After nearly nine hours of questioning at a London police station, Peter Mandelson was granted bail pending further investigation. The arrest stems from the massive “Epstein Files” release—over three million documents made public by the US Justice Department—which allegedly implicate Mandelson in sharing confidential UK government briefings with Epstein during his tenure as Business Secretary in 2008 and 2009.

Key Details of the Investigation

• Allegations of Leaks: Police are reportedly scrutinizing claims that Mandelson forwarded market-sensitive economic briefings and Downing Street emails to Epstein, potentially aiding the financier’s private interests.
• The “Andrew” Connection: Mandelson’s arrest follows the February 19 detention of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on similar suspicions. Both men are accused of using their official roles (Andrew as a trade envoy and Mandelson as a minister) to improperly funnel information to Epstein.
• Search Warrants: Earlier this month, specialist crime units searched two of Mandelson’s properties—one in Camden, London, and another in Wiltshire.

Political Fallout for Keir Starmer

The scandal has brought the government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the brink of a leadership crisis:

1. Sacked Envoy: Starmer sacked Mandelson as the UK’s envoy to Washington in September 2025 after a handwritten note surfaced in which Mandelson called Epstein his “best pal.”
2. Lying Allegations: Starmer has publicly apologized to Epstein’s victims, accusing Mandelson of “lying” during the vetting process about the depth of his relationship with the sex offender.
3. Aide Resignations: The controversy has already claimed the jobs of top Downing Street aides, including Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney, who oversaw Mandelson’s controversial appointment.
4. Upcoming Document Release: The government is set to release tens of thousands of vetting documents in early March, which may reveal how much senior ministers knew about the Mandelson-Epstein link.

The Collapse of “Global Counsel”

The legal pressure has triggered the total collapse of Mandelson’s professional empire. Global Counsel, the influential lobbying firm he co-founded in 2010, entered administration (bankruptcy) on Friday.

• Client Exodus: Major partners including Barclays, Tesco, and the Premier League severed ties as the Epstein revelations emerged.
• Mass Redundancies: Administrators confirmed that the “sudden loss of clients” made the business untenable, leading to immediate staff layoffs.

Status Comparison: High-Profile UK “Epstein” Arrests (Feb 2026)