Mandelson facing criminal probe for 'leaking information' to Epstein as Brown claims he warned Government months ago
The former US Ambassador is being investigated for potential misconduct in a public office during his time as Business Secretary under former PM Gordon Brown
Lord Mandelson will face a full criminal investigation into allegations that he leaked market-sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein during his time as Business Secretary.
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On Tuesday evening, the Metropolitan Police confirmed they were investigating the former US Ambassador, Government minister and MP, for misconduct in public office offences.
Files released by the US Department of Justice on Friday appear to show Mandelson passing sensitive material to Epstein while serving as Business Secretary, as the British Government dealt with the financial crisis and its fallout in 2009 and 2010.
Gordon Brown, who was Prime Minister at the time of the alleged offences, has written to the force to provide material related to what he called an "inexcusable and unpatriotic act".
Among the material provided by Mr Brown was a letter he sent to Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald, the UK's most senior civil servant, in September 2025, warning of the relationship between Mandelson and Epstein at the time of the financial crash.
Mr Brown on Tuesday said he had written to the Met's Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley with "relevant" information relating to Lord Mandelson's "inexcusable and unpatriotic act".
Mr Brown said he had given the force correspondence from 2025 between him and Chris Wormald, the Cabinet Secretary, including his request for the examination of communication about the sale of assets between Lord Mandelson and Epstein last September, following an earlier release of documents relating to the sex offender.
In a statement, Mr Brown said: "I have today written to the Met Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, with information relevant to his investigation of Lord Mandelson's disclosure of market sensitive and confidential Government information to the American financier, Jeffrey Epstein, an inexcusable and unpatriotic act at a time when the whole government and country were attempting to address the global financial crisis that was damaging so many livelihoods.
"I have sent Sir Mark correspondence, exchanged between myself and the Cabinet Secretary last year, and I have also passed over information arising from it that may be important in his current investigation.
"I have included the letter I sent in September 2025 asking the Cabinet Secretary to investigate the veracity of information contained in the Epstein papers regarding the sale of assets arising from the banking collapse and communications about them between Lord Mandelson and Mr Epstein.
"I have also included the November 2026 (sic) response from the Cabinet Secretary who said about this that 'no records of information or correspondence from Lord Mandelson's mailbox' could be found.
"Having drawn their attention to relevant evidence, the matter now rests in the hands of the police."
The Cabinet Office later said it too has passed material to the police after an initial review of documents released as part of the so-called Epstein files found they contained “likely market-sensitive information” and official handling safeguards had been “compromised”.
Lord Mandelson will quit the House of Lords on Wednesday, the Lord Speaker said earlier on Tuesday.
On Sunday, Mandelson reiterated his regret for "ever having known Epstein" and for continuing his association following his conviction.
Mandelson was the sitting Labour MP for Hartlepool when the emails in question were allegedly sent.
Commander Ella Marriott, of the Metropolitan Police, said: “Following the further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice, the Met received a number of reports into alleged misconduct in public office including a referral from the UK Government.
“I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former Government Minister, for misconduct in public office offences.
“The Met will continue to assess all relevant information brought to our attention as part of this investigation and won’t be commenting any further at this time.”
In a statement released on January 12 to Newsnight, Mandelson said: "I was wrong to believe him following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards.
"I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered."
Mandelson was removed from his role as US Ambassador in 2025 after the extent of his association with Epstein after the financier's release from jail for procuring a minor for prostitution was revealed.
He has previously said: "I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction [in 2008 for procuring a child for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute] and to continue my association with him afterwards.
"I apologise unequivocally for doing so to the women and girls who suffered."
In an interview with The Times carried out last week but published on Monday, Mandelson referred to a "handful of misguided historical emails, which I deeply regret sending", and described Epstein as "muck that you can't get off your shoe".