Ex-U.K. ambassador to U.S. arrested amid Epstein probe

• Mandelson was removed from his post last September by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer after the release of Epstein's so-called "birthday book," in which Mandelson called him his "best pal."

State of play: A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed that officers arrested "a 72-year-old man," who was taken to a London police station to be interviewed.

• Police did not name the suspect, as is customary, but they had previously announced a probe into a 72-year-old "former Government Minister" whom authorities received several reports on, including a referral from the U.K. government.
• He was "released on bail pending further investigation" following his arrest "on suspicion of misconduct in public office," per a police statement early Tuesday local time.
• It comes days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the scandal-plagued ex-prince, was arrested, also on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Friction point: Starmer has faced intense scrutiny for appointing Mandelson after the now-public Epstein-related documents shed new light on the former House of Lords member's ties to the disgraced financier.

• Aside from friendly — and at times, crude — conversations, the two men appeared to exchange messages about government and economic data.
• The BBC also reported that one image of Mandelson in the files appears to show him standing in his underwear next to a woman whose face was redacted.
• The U.K. government agreed it would release documents relating to Mandelson's appointment amid the fallout.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional details throughout.