EU Anti-Fraud Office Reviews Mandelson's Trade Commissioner Tenure Amid Epstein Allegations
The European Commission has referred Peter Mandelson to the EU's anti-fraud agency following allegations of sharing sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein during his time as trade commissioner.
The European Commission has referred Peter Mandelson, former EU Trade Commissioner, to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) for review. This action follows the release of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice suggesting Mandelson shared sensitive government information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during his tenure from 2004 to 2008.
A European Commission spokesperson stated:
"Whenever there is any indication of a possible breach of the obligations under the (code of conduct), the commission assesses these possible breaches and takes action on that basis, if necessary."
The spokesperson added that, given the recent publication of numerous documents, the Commission has requested OLAF to examine the matter.
Mandelson, who has denied any wrongdoing, was arrested in London on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to his association with Epstein. He was released on bail but surrendered his passport amid claims—described by his lawyers as "baseless"—that he intended to flee the country.
In a related development, Defence Secretary John Healey has ordered a review of military records spanning over two decades to determine if Epstein or his associates used Royal Air Force (RAF) airfields for his private flights. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson stated:
"The defence secretary has ordered a review of all records that the department may hold relating to Epstein flights landing at RAF bases to ensure that any information which relates to Epstein’s crimes is uncovered and provided to the relevant authorities."
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressed concern that the British state may have inadvertently facilitated Epstein's activities by allowing his private jet to land at military bases, sometimes with unidentified women aboard. Brown is particularly concerned about a flight Epstein took on a Gulfstream jet that landed at a Norfolk airbase in December 2000, prior to a visit to Sandringham with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The European Commission's referral of Mandelson to OLAF underscores the ongoing scrutiny of his actions during his time as trade commissioner and his connections to Epstein.