The UK criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson has hit a brick wall thanks to Donald Trump’s Justice Department refusing to hand over crucial Epstein-related files. Scotland Yard’s efforts to get to the truth face a massive delay, now sparking fears that any charges could be pushed back until 2028.
US Justice Dept Plays Hardball with Scotland Yard
At the centre of the row is a stash of heavily redacted documents held by the US Department of Justice. British detectives believe these files could hold key evidence related to Mandelson, who served as business secretary and British ambassador to Washington. The Met asked for voluntary disclosure. The DoJ said no. Instead, they demand the formal legal back-and-forth called a Mutual Legal Assistance request – a notoriously slow process that often drags on for 18 months or more. Even Met Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley’s direct appeals to the US ambassador and his personal trip to Washington failed to budge the Americans. Without the original documents in hand, British prosecutors won’t even open a charging file. That means a decision could be years away.
What’s Mandelson Accused Of?
The inquiry kicked off in January after leaked US Justice Department documents suggested Mandelson passed sensitive government secrets to Jeffrey Epstein while in Gordon Brown’s cabinet. Allegedly, the info included details on a multi-billion-pound EU bailout, the timing of Brown’s resignation, and potential land deals with Epstein. Mandelson was arrested in February at his Regent’s Park home, quizzed for nine hours, then released on bail. He denies all wrongdoing. Another figure caught up in the probe is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, also arrested but yet to face charges.
Why Washington’s Stonewalling Sparks Anger
The issue isn’t UK law but the US’s refusal to cooperate. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said that after reviewing Epstein’s files last summer, “there was nothing in there that allowed us to prosecute anybody.” This stance remains despite bipartisan calls for action. Even Melania Trump weighed in, urging Congress to name the abusers hidden in the files, saying: “Epstein was not alone.” Meanwhile, Donald Trump himself has pushed to move on, saying: “It’s really time for the country to get on to something else.” Trump’s close ties to Epstein for 15 years fuel speculation he fears fallout if prosecutions widen. Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor-Greene suggests Trump worries his friends “would get hurt”—a claim the White House dismisses as “petty bitterness.” This tangled political backdrop means the US refusal to help the UK carries far-reaching implications. The withheld files include sensitive info tied to ongoing US investigations. Scotland Yard wants full access before making any prosecutorial moves.
Political Fallout Back Home
Mandelson’s arrest has already rocked Sir Keir Starmer’s government. His controversial appointment as UK ambassador to Washington is now a glaring political sore point. With the criminal case stalled indefinitely, Tory critics and the public alike are left fuming over the seeming US stonewall and the lack of justice in sight.
