The Metropolitan Police are investigating an email sent between Peter Mandelson and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to determine whether it constitutes a criminal offense, according to Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.

The investigation comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces repeated questions from Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch about his decision to appoint Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States. Badenoch has specifically asked whether Starmer spoke to Mandelson about his friendship with Epstein before making the appointment.

The Prime Minister has not directly answered these questions during recent parliamentary exchanges. The appointment of Mandelson, a former Labour minister and EU trade commissioner, to the key diplomatic post has drawn scrutiny due to his past association with Epstein.

Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, maintained relationships with numerous high-profile figures before his criminal activities became widely known. The nature and content of the email between Mandelson and Epstein that is now under police investigation has not been disclosed.

The police investigation represents a significant development in ongoing scrutiny surrounding individuals who had contact with Epstein. The Metropolitan Police have not provided details about the timeline for their investigation or what specific criminal offenses they are considering.