Ex-Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over Jeffrey Epstein allegations
Former Hartlepool MP Lord Peter Mandelson has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office and taken for interview, the Met Police have confirmed.
He was pictured being led out of his home by plain-clothed police officers in London on Monday.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
"He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February and has been taken to a London police station for interview.
"This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.”
Documents published in America last month allege that Lord Mandelson passed on sensitive information to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a peer in Gordon Brown’s Labour government in 2009.
The release of the latest round of the so-called Epstein files triggered his resignation from the Labour Party and removal from the House of Lords.
Emails from 2009 appear to show Lord Mandelson pass on an assessment by Mr Brown’s adviser of potential policy measures including an “asset sales plan”.
He also appeared to discuss a tax on bankers’ bonuses and confirm an imminent bailout package for the euro the day before it was announced in 2010.