Peter Mandelson, the former British ambassador to the United States, was arrested in London on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office following revelations about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The 72-year-old was detained at his home in Camden and taken to a London police station for questioning, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Video footage showed him leaving his residence accompanied by plainclothes officers before being driven away in an unmarked car.
Police said the arrest followed search warrants executed at addresses in Camden and Wiltshire.
The arrest indicates that officers suspect a crime may have been committed but does not imply guilt.
There was no immediate response from Mandelson’s lawyers.
The investigation began earlier this month after the U.S. Department of Justice released emails indicating Mandelson had a closer relationship with Epstein than previously known.
Messages from 2009 appeared to show Mandelson, then serving as business secretary, sharing confidential assessments and discussing market-sensitive matters during Gordon Brown’s government.
The Metropolitan Police said: “Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office.”
Authorities confirmed he was arrested on Feb. 23 and taken for interview.
Discussions between investigators and the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime division have been described as informal, with no formal early investigative advice sought.
A conviction for misconduct in public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and would be handled in Crown Court.
The arrest intensifies pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who appointed Mandelson ambassador in late 2024.
Mandelson was dismissed months later after documents detailed the extent of his association with Epstein.
Starmer has said Mandelson misled officials during the vetting process and apologized to Epstein’s victims for the appointment.
Parliament has ordered the release of documents related to Mandelson’s vetting, with the first tranche expected in early March.
The controversy has already led to the resignation of two senior government officials and the departure of Starmer’s chief of staff.
Mandelson has denied wrongdoing and is understood to believe he has not committed any offence.