Lord Peter Mandelson is under formal investigation by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) over his ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to multiple reports. The probe focuses on allegations of misconduct during Mandelson's tenure as EU trade commissioner from 2004 to 2008 and later as UK business secretary.
Key Takeaways
The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has opened a formal investigation into Lord Peter Mandelson regarding his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. The probe focuses on allegations that Mandelson passed sensitive information during his time as EU trade commissioner and UK business secretary.
- OLAF confirms an ongoing investigation into Mandelson's conduct
- Allegations involve passing market-sensitive information to Epstein
- Investigation includes emails from the 2010 eurozone crisis period
- Mandelson denies any criminal wrongdoing or financial gain
The investigation was opened after the European Commission requested OLAF to look into allegations in February. According to BBC, emails surfaced showing Mandelson may have given Epstein advance notice of a €500bn EU bailout during the eurozone crisis in 2010. Reuters confirmed that OLAF has opened an investigation but declined to provide further details due to the ongoing nature of the probe.
Mandelson, who was sacked as UK ambassador to the US in September 2025 over his Epstein ties, has denied any criminal wrongdoing or financial gain. The Daily Mail reported that Mandelson's links with Epstein have also led to scrutiny of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, amid claims that Starmer's aides pressured civil servants to approve Mandelson's appointment as ambassador.
The scandal continues to reverberate through UK politics, with former top civil servant Olly Robbins testifying before Parliament's foreign affairs committee about the pressure exerted to rush through Mandelson's appointment. The investigation is expected to include an analysis of documents and IT forensics, although OLAF has not confirmed whether further allegations have come to light since February.
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