BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
The European Commission has formally requested that the bloc’s anti-fraud watchdog examine the conduct of former British ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson over his past relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during Mandelson’s tenure as the European Union’s trade commissioner.
A Commission spokesperson, speaking late Thursday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, confirmed that Brussels had asked the European Anti-Fraud Office to review the matter on February 18 in light of documents that have entered the public domain.
The European Anti-Fraud Office, known by its French acronym European Anti-Fraud Office, or OLAF, is responsible for investigating fraud, corruption and serious misconduct involving EU funds or institutions. The agency has previously scrutinized migration authorities, members of the European Parliament and other officials for alleged financial wrongdoing and breaches of ethical standards. OLAF declined to confirm whether a formal investigation has been opened.
The Commission’s request marks a significant escalation in scrutiny surrounding Mandelson, a towering figure in Britain’s center-left politics for decades, whose long career has been shadowed by controversy over his association with Epstein.
Mandelson, often described as a master political tactician and once nicknamed the “Prince of Darkness” for his strategic ruthlessness, played a central role in reshaping the Labour Party under Tony Blair during the “New Labour” era that swept to power in 1997. He later served in senior Cabinet posts under both Blair and Gordon Brown. Between his stints in British government, he held one of the EU’s most influential economic roles as trade commissioner from 2004 to 2008, negotiating on behalf of the bloc before Britain’s departure from the EU.
The emerging allegations center on whether Mandelson shared sensitive or privileged information with Epstein during and after his time in Brussels and London. European commissioners are bound by strict ethical rules both during and after their mandates, including obligations related to confidentiality and conflicts of interest. Suspected breaches can trigger OLAF inquiries.
Documents that have surfaced publicly suggest Mandelson maintained contact with Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell over a period spanning years, including during his time in Brussels. In one 2002 email exchange cited in reports, Mandelson used provocative language in correspondence with Maxwell, who responded in kind. In 2003, he reportedly contacted her about family travel arrangements while identifying himself by his official title as a Member of Parliament.
Financial records reviewed by investigators allegedly indicate that Epstein transferred $75,000 in 2003 and 2004 either to Mandelson or to his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva. Mandelson has said he has no recollection of receiving such funds, questioned the authenticity of the bank statements and dismissed the claims as false.
The controversy deepens with suggestions that Mandelson may have shared market-sensitive information with Epstein while serving as a senior minister after returning to London in 2008. In one 2010 message, Mandelson appeared to reference advance knowledge of a massive €500 billion bailout package designed to stabilize the eurozone during the aftermath of the global financial crisis. According to the documents, he wrote that “sources tell me 500 b euro bailout” would be announced that evening — a day before public confirmation.
If verified, such disclosures could raise questions about whether privileged government information was communicated to an individual positioned to profit from financial market movements. Epstein, who cultivated relationships with prominent political and financial figures, died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Mandelson also reportedly sought advice from Epstein in October 2008, shortly after returning from Brussels, about framing the unfolding financial crisis as an opportunity. In 2009, Epstein offered to host Mandelson in a New York apartment. Emails from the same period allegedly show discussions touching on internal British political maneuvering, including conversations about then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s leadership.
The renewed focus on Mandelson has had political repercussions in London. His appointment as ambassador to the United States by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in 2024 had already drawn criticism from some quarters, given prior concerns about Mandelson’s association with Epstein. The unfolding inquiries have since intensified pressure on Starmer, raising questions about his judgment in selecting the veteran politician for a key diplomatic post.
British authorities are conducting their own investigation into Mandelson for alleged misconduct in public office linked to his relationship with Epstein. Earlier this week, he was arrested and questioned for more than nine hours before being released without charge. He has not been formally accused of criminal wrongdoing, and the investigation remains ongoing.
His legal team said he had voluntarily agreed to speak with police again next month and described his arrest as stemming from a “baseless suggestion” that he intended to leave the country. They reiterated that he denies any misconduct.
The European Commission’s referral to OLAF introduces a new dimension, potentially broadening the scope of scrutiny beyond British authorities to include whether Mandelson’s conduct while serving as EU trade commissioner complied with Brussels’ ethical code. Any confirmed violation could have significant reputational consequences for both Mandelson and the institutions he once represented.
As investigations proceed on both sides of the Channel, the case continues to intertwine high-level European governance, British domestic politics and the long shadow cast by Epstein’s network of elite connections.
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