Prince Andrew ‘offered to be witness in Jeffrey Epstein investigation’

Prince Andrew denies he’s given ‘zero co-operation’ on Epstein as he accuses Department of Justice of breaching confidentiality.

Britain’s Prince Andrew. Picture: AFP

Prince Andrew’s lawyers have launched an extraordinary attack on US authorities, accusing the Department of Justice of breaching confidentiality rules and holding the royal to a “lower standard” than any other citizen.

In what has developed into an eyebrow-raising diplomatic and trans-Atlantic spat, Andrew’s legal team fiercely rejected claims from Geoffrey S Berman, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, that Andrew had given “zero co-operation” to authorities in regards to his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew’s team in turn accused Mr Berman of breaching the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) confidentiality rules.

“Far from our client acting above the law, as has been implied by press briefings in the US, he is being treated by a lower standard than might reasonably be expected for any other citizen,” a statement from Andrew’s lawyers, Blackfords, said.

“The Duke of York has on at least three occasions this year offered his assistance as a witness to the DOJ. 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.”

Andrew’s team said the attempt by the DOJ to seek mutual legal assistance from the Home Office would be “disappointing”.

This procedure bypasses diplomatic and royal communications channels and goes straight to the Home Office, where Andrew could be compelled to give evidence under oath about his knowledge of Epstein’s activities. The questioning is likely to focus on what he knew of Epstein’s procurement of under-age girls for sex.

“As the public record indicates the DOJ has been actively investigating Mr Epstein and other targets for more than 16 years, yet the first time they requested the Duke’s help was on 2nd January 2020,” Blackfords said in the statement.

“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.’’

Royal commentator Phil Dampier tweeted: “US officials say Prince Andrew has offered ‘zero co-operation.’ Andrew’s people say he has offered three times this year to be a witness. Who’s telling the truth?”

Andrew has categorically denied any wrongdoing in his long term friendship with Epstein and has repeatedly insisted he did not see any criminal behaviour.

The 60-year-old retired from public life amid the public furore of his Epstein friendship and claims by one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, that Epstein procured her to have sex with the Royal on three occasions.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre. Picture: File

On one occasion, Ms Giuffre claims she had sex with Andrew at the London Mews home of Epstein’s girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, when she was aged 17.

Andrew said he had no recollection of ever meeting Ms Giuffre and questioned the authenticity of a photograph of himself with his arm around the waist of Ms Giuffre.

During a disastrous British television broadcast of Newsnight last November, Andrew said he would take legal advice whether to co-operate with US authorities. He then clarified that to confirm he would work with US officials looking at Epstein’s sex trafficking operation, but said he had not witnessed any untoward activity.

Andrew told the Newsnight program there was “was no indication, absolutely no indication” of young girls procured for sex trafficking at Epstein’s houses.