Brussels orders probe of Mandelson’s Epstein ties while EU trade rep

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union has ordered its anti-fraud office to investigate Peter Mandelson, the disgraced former British ambassador to the United States, over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as Brussels’ trade representative.

“Given the circumstances, and the significant amount of documents made available publicly, the European Commission also asked OLAF on 18 February to look into the matter,” a commission spokesperson who was not authorized to be publicly named said late Thursday.

The European Anti-Fraud Office, known by its French acronym OLAF, is the EU’s watchdog agency that has tackled migration authorities and lawmakers for financial fraud and rights violations, among other violations. Its office did not confirm the investigation.

An influential British figure, Mandelson is under investigation for alleged misconduct in public office linked to his relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mandelson’s ties to Epstein have threatened the leadership of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who appointed the veteran statesman to the diplomatic post despite warnings about his friendship with the disgraced financier.

Before Brexit wrenched the U.K. out of the EU, Mandelson served as the bloc’s Commissioner for Trade from November 2004 to October 2008. He was in contact with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell before, during and after that time, according to documents analysed by the AP.

All European commissioners are bound by ethical obligations and an official code of conduct. Suspected breaches of those obligations can prompt investigations.