Police ask UK government to hold back key Mandelson email exchange about Epstein

LONDON — Police have asked the U.K. government to hold back from publishing a key exchange in which Downing Street asked Peter Mandelson about his links to Jeffrey Epstein, two people familiar with the discussions told POLITICO.

No. 10’s then-chief of staff Morgan McSweeney emailed Mandelson asking three questions about his ties to the convicted sex offender, before Mandelson was appointed as Britain’s ambassador to the U.S. in December 2024.

The emails on behalf of Prime Minister Keir Starmer were first reported by the BBC last September and included why Mandelson continued contact with Epstein after the sex offender’s 2008 conviction, as well as why he was reported to have stayed in one of Epstein’s homes while the financier was in prison.

That exchange is one of a handful of documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment that the Metropolitan Police have asked the government not to publish at this time to avoid undermining a separate criminal investigation into Mandelson, said the two people referenced above. Both requested anonymity to discuss internal matters.

While the criminal investigation is separate to the cache of vetting documents and private messages from 2024 and 2025 that are awaiting release, Mandelson was asked about his past as part of his appointment process.

Met Police Commander Ella Marriott said on Dec. 4 that the force had asked the government “not to release certain documents at this time.”

A Met Police spokesperson declined to confirm specifics when approach for comment by POLITICO but said the force was “focused on a timely and thorough process.” This person added: “An investigation into alleged misconduct in public office is under way and it is vital due process is followed so that our criminal investigation and any potential prosecution is not compromised.

“As part of our enquiries, we will review material identified and provided to us by the Cabinet Office to assess whether publication is likely to have a detrimental impact on our investigation or any subsequent prosecution. We will work alongside the Cabinet Office to review relevant documents over the weeks ahead. The process to decide which documents should ultimately be published remains a matter for government and parliament.”

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “We do not comment on police investigations.”

Starmer has said Mandelson “repeatedly lied” to No. 10 about the extent of his friendship with Epstein — but the paper trail that would show what Downing Street knew, and when, remains caught in a tussle between police and the government.

The prime minister has faced questions about his judgment in giving Mandelson the plum role, despite knowing he had continued his friendship with Epstein after his conviction, and has pledged transparency over the decision — which will be complicated by efforts to hold back key exchanges.

The scandal has already cost the job of McSweeney, one of Starmer’s most senior allies, after he pushed for Mandelson’s appointment.

MPs voted earlier this month to release documents relating to Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador, as well as a much wider cache of emails and text messages between Mandelson and ministers and political advisers in the ruling Labour Party.

While the total cache amounts to tens of thousands of documents, the two people mentioned above said the process is currently prioritizing the much smaller number of files that relate directly to Mandelson’s appointment.

Of those files relating to his appointment, the Met Police have asked for a smaller subset to be held back while its investigation into Mandelson is under way, one of the two people said. 

The exchange with McSweeney was part of a wider vetting that Mandelson went through as part of his appointment. He was also subject to due diligence by the Cabinet Office, followed by deep security vetting after his posting had been announced.

The Metropolitan Police are investigating whether Mandelson committed misconduct in public office after a 2009 email exchange, released in the Epstein files, appeared to show him forwarding the details of government financial discussions to Epstein. Officers have not yet interviewed Mandelson and he has denied wrongdoing.