US Attorney-General Bill Barr says America not moving to extradite Prince Andrew over Epstein inquiries
America’s top law man has made it clear the US wants answers from Prince Andrew over his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
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US Attorney-General William Barr has ruled out forcibly extraditing Prince William to America to face questions about paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein - for now, at least.
Mr Barr confirmed the US wants Prince Andrew to “provide some evidence” about Epstein, who committed suicide in a Manhattan jail cell last August.
But he said there are currently no plans to extradite the Prince.
“I don’t think it’s a question of handing him over,” Mr Barr said.
“I think it’s just a question of having him provide some evidence. But beyond that, I’m not going to comment.”
Asked outright if it could included plans for extradition, Mr Barr replied: “No.” But he did not rule out moves for extradition in the future if US authorities continued to be frustrated by the Prince.
Prince Andrew was branded a liar after he claimed that he had offered to speak with US authorities three times over his links with dead paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke of York, 60, had launched a 602-word statement through his lawyers, rejecting reports that he would not co-operate with the United States Department of Justice.
Prince Andrew, who has been dumped from royal duties over his friendship with Epstein, had tried to draw a line in the sand with his statement.
However, Geoffrey Berman, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, rubbished the denials as a bitter war of words escalated.
“Prince Andrew yet again sought to falsely portray himself to the public as eager and willing to co-operate with an ongoing federal criminal investigation into sex trafficking and related offences committed by Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, even though the prince has not given an interview to federal authorities, has repeatedly declined our request to schedule such an interview, and nearly four months ago informed us unequivocally – through the very same counsel who issued today’s release – that he would not come in for such an interview,” Mr Berman said in a lengthy statement.
“If Prince Andrew is, in fact, serious about co-operating with the ongoing federal investigation, our doors remain open, and we await word of when we should expect him.”
Convicted paedophile Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail in August last year, in a major prison failure, while awaiting fresh child sex charges.
The wounded prince had hit out at leaks from the United States, who had said earlier this year that he had provided “zero co-operation” and threatened to force him to give witness evidence in court.
His legal team Blackfords delivered the bombshell reply early on Tuesday Australian time.
“The Duke of York has on at least three occasions this year offered his assistance as a witness to the DOJ,” the statement said.
“Unfortunately, the DOJ has reacted to the first two offers by breaching their own confidentiality rules and claiming that the Duke has offered zero co-operation. In doing so, they are perhaps seeking publicity rather than accepting the assistance proffered.”
Prince Andrew has been dogged by questions about what he knew of Epstein’s activities, with the well connected businessman convicted of child sex charges.
Australian-based woman Virginia Roberts-Giuffre, 36, has claimed that she had sex with Prince Andrew, 60, three times, including twice when she was underage, after being introduced through Epstein.
Prince Andrew has denied that claim, saying on one occasion in 2001 that he was at a Pizza Express in the London commuter suburb of Woking.
Blackfords also insisted that Prince Andrew was not being pursued for criminal matters.
“Importantly, the DOJ advised us that the Duke is not and has never been a ‘target’ of their criminal investigations into Epstein and that they sought his confidential, voluntary co-operation,” the statement said.
Lisa Bloom, a lawyer for some of Epstein’s victims, said “no one in authority should be above the law.”
“Decency demands that our countries co-operate in this investigation and require Prince Andrew to sit and answer questions and produce documents and information like any other citizen,” she said.
There had been reports that the DOJ would demand Prince Andrew give evidence in Westminster Magistrates’ Court under oath.
The scandal also threw a cloud of his daughter Beatrice’s wedding, which had been planned for last month but was postponed because of coronavirus restrictions.
Originally published as US Attorney-General Bill Barr says America not moving to extradite Prince Andrew over Epstein inquiries
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