An investigation into Lord Mandelson by Scotland Yard is being impeded by Donald Trump’s justice department, it has been reported.
US officials have denied Scotland Yard access to evidence inside the Epstein files, according to The Telegraph.
The DoJ has said it will only release redacted material relating to Lord Mandelson once Scotland Yard files a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) request.
An MLA request is a formal application between states to collect evidence, obtain statements, or freeze assets for criminal investigation.
The process could take as long as 18 months to complete, delaying investigations into the former US ambassador, who was arrested on February 23 on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Just days before, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was also arrested on suspicion of same offence. Both men had relationships with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Mandelson has been accused of leaking sensitive information, such as the sale of government land, to Epstein during his time in office. Much of the evidence against him was collected in documents, dubbed the Epstein files, published by the US DoJ in January.
The US watchdog announced on Friday that the Epstein files will receive an audit to ensure they are being released and that the release is compliant with a law passed by Congress to publish all files.
It is not known whether any of the redacted material relates to Mandelson and it is understood that prosecutors will not consider a file of evidence until all copies of the offending material have been received from US authorities.
Any charging decision on Mandelson is now unlikely to take place before 2028.
In the US, the DoJ has refused to press for criminal charges against those named in the files, citing insufficient evidence.
Acting US attorney general Todd Blance told CNN that “there was nothing in [the files] that allowed us to prosecute anybody.”
First lady Melania Trump has been part of the efforts to force Congress to reveal the names of abusive men redacted from the files. In contrast, her husband Trump has asked the country to “get onto something else.”
Trump is one of the figures who had a relationship with Epstein, though he has consistently denied having a friendship while any criminal activity was taking place.
Marjorie Taylor-Greene, a former Trump ally, claimed that the US president feared that his friends would be “hurt” by the release of the files.
Mandelson and Mountbatten-Windsor have denied any wrongdoing.
The DoJ has been contacted by The Standard for comment.
