Epstein Files: British Royal Family Member, Former Diplomat In Trouble Over Misuse Of Public Office

London: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of Britain's King Charles III, continues to remain in the news due to his dubious activities. Since his name surfaced in the Epstein Files, he has brought disrepute to the royal family worldwide. But now, another allegation has been leveled against him.

Meanwhile, Peter Mandelson, Britain’s former ambassador to the US, has been arrested by te London police over allegations of misconduct in public office. The police acton came ater newly reveaed communications exposed the extent of his ties to convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

What is the issue?

According to reports, Andrew is accused of using taxpayer funds to pay for massages during foreign trips. Furthermore, public funds were also used for other personal expenses besides massages. A retired British civil servant made these allegations against Andrew. The report states that in the early 2000s, the then-civil servant objected to the massage expenses incurred by Andrew during a trip to the Middle East. He stated, "I thought it was wrong. I said we shouldn't pay for it," but the payment was eventually made. He also stated that senior officials overruled his objection.

Andrew served as Britain's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment from 2001 to 2011. This position was unpaid, but the expenses of his foreign travel and support staff were borne by taxpayers. These latest allegations further tarnish Andrew's already poor image. He is under investigation for his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Last week, he was arrested on charges of abuse of public office but was later released.

What is Andrew accused of?

Andrew is also accused of sending confidential government documents to Epstein while serving as a trade envoy. According to the report, another retired financial watchdog official said they never suspected the expenses of Andrew's foreign trips. They expressed surprise at the alleged extravagance, which included frequent flights, expensive hotel bookings, and the expenses of his accompanying entourage.

A former official at UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) claimed that Andrew's travels sometimes undermined business efforts. According to them, Andrew was seen as a liability. He would deviate from the set script, considering himself an expert when he wasn't. He thought he was funny, but he would be rude to people.

The report said that preparations for his foreign trips went on for months. Claims about Andrew's liking for massages have surfaced before. In a statement given to a US court, Epstein's former employee, Juan Alessi, alleged that Andrew received daily massages during his travels. Emails linked to Epstein also mention massage payments for a person named Andrew.

The UK Department for Business and Trade did not directly deny the allegations of massage expenses, but cited the ongoing police investigation involving Andrew.

What about Peter Mandelson?

London’s Metropolitan Police informed the media about the arrest of a 72-year-old man as part of an investigation into a former government minister. “Officers have arrested a 72-year-old man on suspicion of misconduct in public office,” the police force said in a statement.

Mandelson was once one of the most powerful figures in the Labour Party and was a close ally of former prime minister Gordon Brown. He had served as British ambassador to the US before being dismissed from the post in September last year after questions intensified over his relationship with Epstein.