Robert Carradine Dies at 71; Peter Mandelson Arrested in Epstein Probe

[00:00] Benjamin Roth: From Neural Newscast, I'm Benjamin Roth. [00:03] Benjamin Roth: And I'm Claire Donovan. [00:04] Benjamin Roth: Today is Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. [00:09] Benjamin Roth: We begin with a reflection on the legacy of actor Robert Caradine. [00:14] Benjamin Roth: His family has shared a powerful message regarding mental health [00:18] Benjamin Roth: and bipolar disorder following his passing. [00:21] Benjamin Roth: We also follow escalating misconduct probes in the United Kingdom. [00:25] Benjamin Roth: Former Ambassador Peter Mandelson has been arrested [00:29] Benjamin Roth: While Andrew Mountbatten-Winzer faces new allegations regarding his expenses as a trade envoy. [00:36] Benjamin Roth: Robert Carradine, the youngest son of the legendary John Carradine, has passed away at the age of 71. [00:45] Benjamin Roth: His family confirmed the cause of death was suicide. [00:49] Benjamin Roth: They noted that he had lived with bipolar disorder for nearly two decades. [00:55] Benjamin Roth: In a statement, the family expressed a desire to speak openly about his struggle. [01:01] Benjamin Roth: They hoped to help dismantle the stigma that often attaches to mental illness. [01:07] Benjamin Roth: His brother Keith told reporters, there is no shame in this reality. [01:13] Benjamin Roth: He said he wants the world to celebrate Robert's beautiful soul. [01:18] Benjamin Roth: Robert first gained fame in the 1972 John Wayne film, The Cowboys. [01:25] Benjamin Roth: He later became a household name for his lead role in the Revenge of the Nerds franchise. [01:31] Benjamin Roth: Many younger viewers remember him as the warm and caring father on the Disney Channel series, Lizzie McGuire. [01:40] Benjamin Roth: Co-star Hilary Duff led the tributes. [01:44] Benjamin Roth: She described him as an old friend who brought immense warmth to the screen every single day. [01:51] Benjamin Roth: It is a profound loss for the entertainment industry. [01:56] Benjamin Roth: It also serves as a stark reminder of the silent battles many individuals face. [02:03] Benjamin Roth: Turning now to a developing legal story in London, involving the wider Jeffrey Epstein investigation. [02:10] Benjamin Roth: Former UK ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, was arrested on Monday. [02:15] Benjamin Roth: He was released on bail early this morning. [02:18] Benjamin Roth: Police are investigating misconduct in public office. [02:22] Benjamin Roth: The charges stem from his historical ties with the financier, Jeffrey Epstein. [02:28] Benjamin Roth: This arrest follows explosive claims from retired civil servants [02:32] Benjamin Roth: regarding the conduct of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during his time as a trade envoy. [02:38] Benjamin Roth: Whistleblowers allege that during his decade-long tenure, [02:42] Benjamin Roth: Andrew regularly charged taxpayers for massage services and excessive travel costs. [02:47] Benjamin Roth: One former official told the BBC he tried to block a payment for a massage after a Middle [02:54] Benjamin Roth: East trip. [02:54] Benjamin Roth: He says he was ultimately overruled. [02:57] Benjamin Roth: These sources describe a culture of deference. [03:00] Benjamin Roth: They allege senior staff gave a rubber stamp to lavish spending without proper scrutiny or pushback. [03:07] Benjamin Roth: The Department for Business and Trade has not challenged the specific massage claim. [03:12] Benjamin Roth: However, they referred all questions to the ongoing police investigation. [03:16] Benjamin Roth: Members of Parliament are now scheduled to meet later this week. [03:20] Benjamin Roth: They will discuss a potential inquiry into the accountability of all trade envoys. [03:25] Benjamin Roth: There is growing pressure in the House of Commons to examine how these public funds were managed and tracked over the years. [03:33] Benjamin Roth: The broader misconduct probe continues to create significant ripples through the highest levels of the British government. [03:41] Benjamin Roth: We will continue to monitor these investigations as more details from the whistleblowers emerge. [03:47] Benjamin Roth: I'm Benjamin Roth. [03:48] Benjamin Roth: And I'm Claire Donovan. [03:50] Benjamin Roth: Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, human-reviewed. [03:54] Benjamin Roth: View our AI transparency policy at neuralnewscast.com. [03:58] Claire Donovan: Neural Newscast uses artificial intelligence in content creation with human editorial review prior to publication. [04:05] Claire Donovan: While we strive for factual, unbiased reporting, AI-assisted content may occasionally contain [04:11] Claire Donovan: errors. Verify critical information with trusted sources. Learn more at neuralnewscast.com.