Epstein affair British connections

Former US ambassador Peter Mandelson arrested

Former British ambassador to the US and Labour politician Peter Mandelson has been arrested in London, British media reports.

Police say a 72-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct, without mentioning Mandelson by name, Reuters reports. He has been taken to a police station in the capital where he will be questioned.

Mandelson had contact with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which has led to sharp criticism of both him and the British government. The investigation against him has been ongoing since the relationship was revealed in the Epstein files.

British media have previously reported that Mandelson received 75,000 pounds, around one million Swedish kronor, from Epstein.

Information: Tax money went to Andrew's massage

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a former prince, is said to have let British taxpayers pay for massages during his time as Britain's trade envoy. This is stated by former officials at the Department for Business and Industry according to the BBC.

One of the sources states that he refused to approve Andrew's demand for compensation for "massage services" during a visit to the Middle East - but was overruled by superiors.

- I thought it was wrong... I said we couldn't pay it, but in the end we did it anyway, he tells the BBC.

Andrew was trade envoy between 2001 and 2011 and the role was unpaid, but he had the support of officials and his foreign trips were financed by taxpayers' money.

Andrew denies that he made any personal profit during his time as trade envoy. The ministry refers to the ongoing police investigation into the former prince.