Prince Andrew is under serious pressure after the Queen’s second and apparently favourite son was accused by the US authorities investigating the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking scandal of offering “zero cooperation”.
Buckingham Palace has refused to comment on the allegation which is splashed all over the front pages of British newspapers on Tuesday, with The Daily Telegraph, for example, making it its lead story.
In the Daily Mail, it’s “FBI: Why won’t Andrew speak to us? Sensation as US attorney accused duke of ‘zero cooperation’ over Epstein case.”
Earlier this month, in a show of public support for Andrew, the Queen allowed him to accompany her to church in Sandringham, her country estate in Norfolk where she held a summit to resolve the future of Harry and Meghan before her grandson’s departure for Canada.
At the age of 93, she is having to sort how her increasing workload can be shared out between a declining number of senior royals, now that Andrew, Harry and Meghan are all out of the picture. William and Kate are having to take on more engagements and there is a suggestion that Andrew’s daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, may have to be “promoted”.
It is embarrassing for them to find relentless coverage of their father’s alleged sexual relationship with an American girl, Virginia Roberts, when she was 17.
She claims that while working for the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein, she was made to sleep with Andrew on three occasions – all denied by Andrew.
It has to be said that public opinion in Britain is not entirely convinced by Andrew’s denials.
The latest twist comes in the statement from Geoffrey Epstein, state attorney for the Southern District of New York and the leader of the Epstein inquiry, who revealed that Andrew’s lawyers had been contacted as part of their sex trafficking investigation.
Speaking at a news conference outside Epstein’s New York mansion, Berman said: “The Southern District of New York and the FBI have contacted Prince Andrew’s attorneys and requested to interview Prince Andrew, and to date, Prince Andrew has provided zero co-operation.
“He publicly offered, indeed in a press release, to co-operate with law enforcement investigating the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators.”
Berman was speaking at an event to promote a new law that makes it easier for victims to sue over childhood abuse.
He added: “The original charges against Jeffrey Epstein contained a conspiracy charge and we allege there were conspirators involved. Jeffrey Epstein couldn’t have done what he did without the assistance of others and I can assure you that our investigation is moving forward.”
In his interview with the BBC’s Panorama programme in November – it has been depicted as a “car crash” – Andrew had told presenter
Emily Maitles: “I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency.”
Although Buckingham Palace has remained silent, a source has been quoted as saying: “This issue is being dealt with by the Duke of York’s legal team.”
A lawyer for Roberts, now a married woman of 36 with three children and resident in Australia, commented: “Prince Andrew’s continued refusal to cooperate with the authorities after freely acknowledging that he would be prepared to answer enquiries raises even more questions about the role he played in the international sex trafficking ring Jeffrey Epstein and others operated.
“Prince Andrew should take most seriously the deeply held belief in this country that no one is above the law.”
Another US lawyer, Lisa Bloom, who represents five of Epstein’s alleged victims, told the BBC: “Push has come to shove. There are dozens of women who allege they were the victims of sexual assault by this predator Jeffrey Epstein.
“It is time for anyone with information to come forward and answer questions. Prince Andrew himself is accused of sexual misconduct and he also spent a great deal of time with Jeffrey Epstein.
“So, it’s time to stop playing games and to come forward to do the right thing and answer questions.” There has been speculation that Andrew could be held for questioning if he steps foot in the US.