London police have launched a criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson on charges of abuse of public office, the BBC reported.
The former Labour minister and until recently ambassador to the US has been accused of passing sensitive government information to US financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Emails released by the US Department of Justice appear to show that Lord Mandelson passed information to Epstein when he was business secretary to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2009. The emails are believed to contain "market-sensitive information relating to the 2008 financial crisis." Lord Mandelson did not respond to requests for comment from the BBC, but the BBC has learned that his position is that he did not act in any criminal manner and was not motivated by financial gain.
A government spokesman said that "Downing Street" was ready to provide any support and assistance that the police required. Misconduct in public office can be punished with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Earlier, the Lord Speaker announced that Lord Mandelson, who was sacked as the UK ambassador to the US last year, intends to resign from the House of Lords on Wednesday. Also in connection with the “Epstein files“ British police are also investigating claims made by the BBC about a second woman sent to the UK by Jeffrey Epstein for a sexual encounter with Prince Andrew. The encounter took place at the prince's former residence “Royal Lodge“ in 2010. The woman, who is not British, was in her 20s at the time. King Charles's brother declined to comment.