Last year, Prince Andrew appeared on BBC’s Newsnight in an attempt to explain his relationship with convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. It was an absolute trainwreck interview and ultimately, resulted in the Prince stepping down from royal duties. Fast-forward to this week and it looks like the PR nightmare is continuing as US prosecutors look for Prince Andrew’s cooperation in the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Hear all about it below:
According to multiple reports, the US Department of Justice filed a ‘mutual legal assistance’ (MLA) request to the Home office which would require Prince Andrew to appear in a UK court as a witness or give evidence within months.
A source told The Sun, “It’s a huge statement of intent from the US and it moves Andrew into the realms of a criminal investigation. It’s also frankly a diplomatic nightmare.”
“It puts the UK government in a very difficult position – and the Duke of York even more so.”
Prince Andrew’s lawyers have insisted that the Duke has offered to help with the inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein on “at least three occasions” but US prosecutors vehemently reject those claims.
In a statement, US attorney Geoffrey Berman accused Prince Andrew of “falsely portraying” himself as helpful to the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
Berman said the Prince “has not given an interview to federal authorities, has repeatedly denied our request to schedule such an interview, and nearly four months ago informed us unequivocally – through the very same counsel who issues today’s release – that he would not come in for such an interview.”
“If Prince Andrew is, in fact, serious about cooperating with the ongoing federal investigation, our doors remain open, and we await word of when we should expect him,” he added.
ICYMI, Prince Andrew has been heavily criticised for his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein – a convicted sex offender who took his own life in jail last August while awaiting trial on sex trafficiking and conspiracy charges.
During his Newsnight interview, the Duke denied allegations of sexual abuse and claimed he has “no recollection of ever meeting” victim Virginia Giuffre via Jeffrey Epstein, despite mounting evidence that suggested otherwise.
Prince Andrew also played down his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. At one point during the interview, he admitted to staying at Epstein’s mansion in 2010 after Epstein had been convicted of sex offences against a minor, claiming the location was “a convenient place to stay.”
Despite claims he’s helped US prosecutors with the Jeffrey Epstein investigation on multiple occasions, Prince Andrew has also denied ever being close to the convicted sex offender – so how helpful is he actually being?
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