Washington DC, 24 February (H.S.): Lord Peter Mandelson, the once-indomitable architect of New Labour, was arrested yesterday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, marking a seismic fall from grace amid revelations of his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein.

Metropolitan Police executed search warrants at addresses in Wiltshire and Camden before detaining the 72-year-old peer at his north London home on Monday afternoon. Plain-clothes officers from the force's central specialist crime division escorted him into an unmarked vehicle, as captured in striking footage.The probe, launched earlier this month, centers on allegations that Mandelson—while a government minister—shared market-sensitive information with Epstein, the convicted sex offender whose 2019 death in custody has fueled ongoing global scrutiny.

Consultations with the Crown Prosecution Service continue, with no charges filed yet. Mandelson, who has maintained he acted without criminal intent or financial motive, offered no immediate comment.

US Department of Justice documents released last month exposed emails from 2009–2010, where Mandelson allegedly relayed insider assessments on an asset sales plan, bankers' bonus taxes, and a Eurozone bailout—details shared just before public announcements.

Further correspondence showed Epstein funneling $75,000 to accounts linked to Mandelson between 2003–2004, alongside Mandelson's post-conviction support, including urging Epstein to fight for early release.

Their bond, spanning 2002–2011, persisted after Epstein's 2008 guilty plea for soliciting underage prostitution. Mandelson reportedly stayed at Epstein's New York apartment during his incarceration and contributed to a Ghislaine Maxwell-curated birthday book, dubbing Epstein his best pal.

Appointed UK ambassador to the US in February 2025 under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Mandelson was sacked by September after Downing Street cited undisclosed Epstein depths. No 10 had quizzed him on continued contacts, a prison stay, and Maxwell ties, yet proceeded—prompting Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to brand it the defining moment of Sir Keir's premiership.

Virginia Giuffre's family hailed the arrest as meaningful action, contrasting US inaction, while the government eyes early March document releases to vindicate Starmer's claim that Mandelson lied in vetting. Chief Secretary Darren Jones noted police interest delays some disclosures.

Mandelson's journey—from 1980s Labour operative to Blair's 1997 election mastermind—now hinges on this inquiry, with US Congress also summoning testimony.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar