British police have arrested former US ambassador Peter Mandelson in an investigation into Epstein’s ties

LONDON (AP) — British police on Monday arrested Peter Mandelson, the former U.K. ambassador to the United States, in a misconduct investigation stemming from his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

The Metropolitan Police Force said: “Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in a public office” at a north London address. He was taken to the police station for interrogation.

Read more: UK police are searching two properties linked to Peter Mandelson as part of the Epstein investigation

It did not mention Mandelson’s name, in line with British police practices, but the suspect in the case was previously identified as the 72-year-old former diplomat.

Police are investigating Mandelson over allegations that he passed sensitive government information to Epstein a decade and a half ago. He does not face any charges of sexual misconduct.

His arrest comes four days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested in a separate case on suspicion of a similar crime related to his friendship with Epstein. Andrew was released after 11 hours in detention while police investigations continue.

Mandelson was fired from his diplomatic post in September after emails were published showing he maintained a friendship with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction for sex crimes against a minor. When more details emerged in documents published by the US Department of Justice last month, police opened a criminal investigation.

The Epstein files indicate that Mandelson passed sensitive — and potentially market-influencing — government information to Epstein in 2009, when Mandelson was a member of the then-government.

Officers then searched Mandelson’s homes in London and western England.

The decision to appoint Mandelson almost cost Starmer his job, with questions growing about his judgment on someone who had sparked controversy during a decades-long political career.

Despite admitting he made a mistake and apologizing to Epstein’s victims, Starmer’s position remains fraught. His future may depend on the release of files related to Mandelson’s appointment.