The EU’s anti-fraud office has opened an investigation into Peter Mandelson following allegations he passed sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein.
A spokesperson for the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) told the Daily Mail that it has opened a probe into the disgraced former Labour grandee.
But they declined to give any details about the period or specific activities that are being looked into as ‘the investigation is ongoing.’
OLAF investigates corruption in EU organisations, and works to fight fraud affecting the EU’s budget.
According to emails published in the bombshell Epstein files, in 2010 he allegedly passed information to the now-dead paedophile financier related to the £434billion bailout given to Greece amid the Eurozone crisis while he was the UK’s Business Secretary under Gordon Brown.
The allegations were serious enough to warrant the European Commission requesting a probe into the matter in February, with a spokesperson telling Politico: ‘Given the circumstances, and the significant amount of documents made available publicly, the European Commission also asked OLAF (European anti-fraud office) on February 18 to look into the matter.’
Among the files released by the US Department of Justice is a message sent by Mandelson to Epstein in the early hours of May 9, 2010, in which he said: ‘Sources tell me 500 b euro bailout almost complete.’
Later that day, a bailout was confirmed by the European Commission.
The EU’s anti-fraud office has opened an investigation into Peter Mandelson (pictured) following allegations he passed sensitive information to Jeffrey Epstein
Mandelson’s links with Epstein resulted in his dismissal as the UK’s ambassador to the US in September 2025.
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Starmer’s ex-chief aide denies ‘bully’ Foreign Office over Mandelson appointment
Sir Keir Starmer is now facing calls to resign amid claims his aides tried to bully civil servants into waving through his appointment to the important role.
Parliament’s foreign affairs committee heard claims earlier this week that Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s former chief of staff ordered the top mandarin in the Foreign Office to ‘just f***ing approve’ the peer’s post.
Giving evidence to the committee on Tuesday, ousted Foreign Office chief Olly Robbins said there was an ‘atmosphere of pressure’ and ‘constant chasing’ from Downing Street over finalising Mandelson’s vetting.
Sir Olly was asked during the hearing about the alleged call from Mr McSweeney to his predecessor as permanent under-secretary, Sir Philip Barton.
He added that he did not ‘remember’ Sir Philip ‘using those words’ about the call, but he was ‘not the sort of person’ who would have ‘reported them verbatim’.
However, McSweeney reportedly told a security forum in Kyiv: ‘I find it strange reading about a character with the same name as mine sometimes.
‘I don’t recognise that character,’ he said, according to The Times.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson pictured wearing bathrobes while sat with Jeffrey Epstein
Mandelson, pictured here in a bathrobe with Epstein, was sacked from his role as ambassador to the US over his links to the dead paedophile financier
McSweeney himself is due to appear before MPs himself next week to explain his role in the scandal, in what could be another pivotal moment for Sir Keir.
The PM’s official spokesman said earlier this week: ‘There is a distinction clearly between asking reasonably for updates on an appointment process … I would draw a distinction between the idea of pressure and, you know, being kept informed about the process and the progress of the appointment.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Mandelson’s representatives for comment. Mandelson has previously denied any criminal wrongdoing in his dealings with Epstein, or acting for personal profit.
