UPDATE 3 - Formal probe launched into former UK minister over claims he leaked emails to Epstein

UPDATES WITH INVESTIGATION; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - UK police announced Tuesday that they have launched a criminal investigation into former government minister Peter Mandelson following claims that he leaked government emails to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said a probe has been launched into "alleged misconduct in public office."

"I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former government minister, for misconduct in public office offences," Met Police Commander Ella Marriott said in the statement.

"The Met will continue to assess all relevant information brought to our attention as part of this investigation and won’t be commenting any further at this time," she added.

The development came after the British government earlier Tuesday referred material to the police after an initial review of Mandelson’s emails to Epstein.

"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 stabilize the economy," Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said in the statement.

- Mandelson to quit House of Lords

The Metropolitan Police announced Monday that it would review reports of alleged misconduct in public office after the latest release of files by the US Justice Department on Epstein suggested that Mandelson leaked government information to the late financier.

Emails released Friday in the US revealed that Mandelson forwarded internal government information to Epstein while serving as business secretary in 2009.

Mandelson will step down from the House of Lords on Wednesday amid ongoing pressure over his links to Epstein, the speaker of the House of Lords, Lord Forsyth, said earlier Tuesday.

The latest release of files also prompted Mandelson to resign on Sunday from the Labour Party.

The US Justice Department recently released more than 3 million pages, 2,000 videos and 180,000 images related to Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law in November by US President Donald Trump.

The materials include photographs, grand jury transcripts and investigative records, though many pages remain heavily redacted.

Epstein was found dead by suicide in a New York City jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls.