- Title: Mandelson arrest prompts Londoners to question accountability in US
- Date: 23rd February 2026
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FEBRUARY 23, 2026) (REUTERS) COMMUTERS CROSSING STREET BUS (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER, ANNE HODGETTS, SAYING: “I’m kind of shocked, but at the same time, not really surprised in a way. There's kind of like been a little sneaking niggle that something smells off in all of this over the last 20 years, longer. So it's quite shocking that it'
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: ARREST BRITAIN EPSTEIN EPSTEIN FILES MANDELSON POLICE UK US USA
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: UK
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001795023022026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Former British ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson was arrested by London police on Monday (February 23) on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following revelations over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Londoners received the news of arrest with caution, but welcomed a sense of accountability.
Mandelson, 72, was fired from the most prestigious posting in Britain's diplomatic service in September, when the depth of his friendship with Epstein started to become clear.
Police earlier this month began a criminal investigation into Mandelson after Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government passed on communications between the former ambassador and Epstein.
The arrest means police suspect a crime has been committed but does not imply any guilt.
There was no immediate response from Mandelson's lawyers.
Last week, King Charles' younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over separate allegations he sent confidential government documents to Epstein. He has always denied any wrongdoing.
(Production: Antonio Denti, Vitalii Yalahuzian) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None