US justice department blocking Met police investigation into Mandelson, reports say UK politics live

"The UK criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson has reportedly ground to a halt after the US justice department refused to hand over evidence contained in the Epstein files, which Scotland Yard believes could hold key evidence related to Mandelson."

"The process could take from several months to over a year, according to some estimates, potentially delaying Scotland Yard's investigation into Mandelson, who was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office."

"Even the Met police commissioner Mark Rowley's direct appeals to the US ambassador, Warren Stephens, and his personal trip to Washington in March had failed to move the process forward."

"The Foreign Office had refused to hand over a summary of Mandelson's security vetting, which led to the top civil servant at the Cabinet Office having to obtain the document directly from UK Security Vetting."

The UK criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson has stalled as the US justice department declined to share evidence from the Epstein files. Scotland Yard believes these documents could be crucial for their inquiry into Mandelson, who was arrested for misconduct in public office. The US insists on a Mutual Legal Assistance request for evidence, which could delay the investigation for months or even over a year. Additionally, the Foreign Office has withheld a summary of Mandelson's security vetting, complicating the situation further.

Read at www.theguardian.com