Overview
- OLAF, which confirmed the step Friday, said it had opened an investigation and would not comment further while the case is active.
- Emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice show a 2010 exchange in which Epstein wrote about a €500bn eurozone bailout and Mandelson appeared to reply that it would be announced that night.
- The European Commission asked OLAF to examine the matter on February 18 after the Epstein files were published, leading to today’s formal inquiry.
- UK police are also examining Mandelson’s contacts from his time in Gordon Brown’s government, and he was removed as UK ambassador to the US in September 2025 after email disclosures.
- OLAF investigates fraud and potential breaches involving EU officials and keeps its processes confidential while gathering evidence.