By Burak Bir
LONDON (AA) - The British government has referred material to the police after an initial review of ex-minister Peter Mandelson's emails to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a statement on Tuesday.
"An initial review of the documents released in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the US Department of Justice … found that they contain likely market sensitive information surrounding the 2008 financial crash and official activities thereafter to stabilise the economy," Prime Minister's Keir Starmer's Office said in the statement.
It came after the Metropolitan Police announced on Monday that it will review reports of alleged misconduct in public office after the latest release of files by the US Justice Department concerning Epstein suggested Mandelson leaked government information to him.
"Only people operating in an official capacity had access to this information and (there were) strict handling conditions to ensure it was not available to anyone who could potentially benefit from it financially," said the statement.
"It appears these safeguards were compromised. In light of this information the Cabinet Office has referred this material to the police."
Emails released in the US on Friday revealed Mandelson forwarded internal government information to Epstein while serving as business secretary in 2009.