Furious Prince Andrew hits back at paedophile Jeffrey Epstein prosecutors to insist he's offered to be a witness THREE times and accuses the US DoJ of treating him like a second class citizen and breaking their own confidentiality rules with leaks
Furious Prince Andrew launched an extraordinary public fightback today after US authorities made a formal request for him to be quizzed over the Jeffrey Epstein affair.
The Duke of York released a bundle of bombshell evidence this afternoon as he hit back in the strongest possible terms at claims he has failed to engage with the American investigation.
In an explosive letter, his legal team gave an account of their dealings with the US Department of Justice, claiming he has offered to be a witness three times this year.
Andrew's lawyers at legal firm Blackfords added today that he is 'being treated by a lower standard than might reasonably be expected for any other citizen'.
The 60-year-old royal's team also said that 'breaches of confidentiality' by the DoJ have given the world an 'entirely misleading account of our discussions with them'.
The Duke of York (pictured in London in 2017) has always categorically denied any wrongdoing
Andrew (second left) has said he became friends with Jeffrey Epstein (right) in 1999, after being introduced to him through Ghislaine Maxwell. Pictured: Melania Trump, Andrew, Epstein's friend Gwendolyn Beck and Epstein at a party at the Mar-a-Lago in Florida in 2000
They said the DoJ has been 'investigating Mr Epstein and other targets for more than 16 years, yet the first time they requested the Duke's help was on January 2, 2020'.
Reacting to the release of the letter, royal expert 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?'
There has been some confusion over what the US is requesting against what Andrew is offering - with the Duke's lawyers saying he has offered to provide a witness statement, but the US prosecutors said to be hoping to question him under oath.
In Andrew's statement, the eighth-in-line-to-the-throne's team at London-based lawyers added that the DoJ 'reacted to the first two offers by breaching their own confidentiality rules and claiming that the Duke has offered zero co-operation'.
They continued by saying of the DoJ: 'In doing so, they are perhaps seeking publicity rather than accepting the assistance proffered.'
In the statement, issued shortly after 3.30pm this afternoon, the firm of lawyers said Andrew had offered to assist the DoJ three times this year and the authority first requested his help on January 2.
They said: '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.
'In the course of these discussions, we asked the DoJ to confirm that our co-operation and any interview arrangements would remain confidential, in accordance with the ordinary rules that apply to voluntary co-operation with the DoJ. We were given an unequivocal assurance that our discussions and the interview process would remain confidential.
'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. '
The statement added that an attempt by the DOJ to seek mutual legal assistance from the Home Office would be 'disappointing'.
The statement said: 'Any pursuit of an application for mutual legal assistance would be disappointing, since the Duke of York is not a target of the DOJ investigation and has recently repeated his willingness to provide a witness statement.
'It is hoped that this third offer has not been the cause of the most recent leak about the Duke of York.
'We do not intend to make any further public statement at this time as we wish to respect the rules of confidentiality under both English law and the US guidelines.'
It follows the DoJ filing a 'mutual legal assistance' (MLA) request for help to the Home Office, something used only in criminal cases under a legal treaty with the UK.
Andrew has always categorically denied any wrongdoing over his relationship with billionaire US paedophile Epstein.
But the request from US officials means he could be forced to appear in a UK court as a witness in the case within months.
US officials have previously claimed that Andrew has refused to co-operate with their requests to be questioned over Epstein and their investigation into his sex trafficking network.
Submitting an MLA is an audacious move to try to force him to answer questions.
Last night, the Mail was told that the duke's legal team was 'at the end of its tether' and had 'tried to play a straight bat' with US officials, only to be greeted by leaks and innuendo.
A source close to the duke's legal team told the Mail yesterday: 'Legal discussions with the Department of Justice are subject to strict confidentiality rules, as set out in their own guidelines.
'We have chosen to abide by both the letter and the spirit of these rules, which is why we have made no comment about anything related to the Department of Justice during the course of this year. We believe in playing a straight bat.'
Andrew is yet to speak to prosecutors in the US despite pledging in his disastrous Newsnight interview in November last year that he would co-operate.
The Department of Justice's request for 'mutual legal assistance' from the Home Office effectively bypasses a request to Buckingham Palace.
One of Epstein's victims, Virginia Roberts, now Virginia Giuffre, alleges she had sex with the Duke of York three times when she was 17 at the behest of the billionaire paedophile
Andrew's lawyers at Blackfords released a statement today, the start of which is pictured
Andrew and Virginia Roberts, aged 17, at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London in 2001
Andrew has previously admitted to becoming friends with Epstein - a billionaire tycoon who was accused of using his wealth to prey on underage girls - in 1999, after being introduced to the financier through Ghislaine Maxwell.
His relationship with Epstein came under intense public scrutiny in 2010 when photos emerged of them together in New York when Epstein was already a registered sex offender.
It later emerged that Andrew had stayed at Epstein's £57million mansion for four days. However, the Prince said he was visiting Epstein at the time to end their friendship.
One of Epstein's victims, Virginia Roberts, alleges she had sex with the Duke three times when she was 17 at the behest of the paedophile. The prince emphatically denies the allegation.
The disgraced financier killed himself last August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
But his victims want justice against his alleged conspirators, including British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, 58 – the daughter of shamed media tycoon Robert Maxwell.
Lawyers for Miss Maxwell have previously said she denies any wrongdoing.
Andrew has categorically denied having any knowledge that Epstein was sexually abusing teenage girls.
Miss Roberts alleges she first had sex with Andrew in 2001 when she was 17 after being trafficked by Epstein.
She said she was flown on Epstein's private jet to London to meet the duke and the pair were photographed together in Miss Maxwell's Belgravia home.
During his Newsnight interview, Andrew said he did not recall ever meeting Miss Roberts.
It was claimed last night that the MLA request, reported by The Sun, was formally lodged by the DoJ last month under the terms of a 1994 treaty.
Andrew spoke to the BBC's Emily Maitlis for a Newsnight interview in November last year
If granted, US prosecutors could either ask the duke to voluntarily attend an interview or give a signed statement.
They could also ask Andrew to attend a magistrates' court to provide oral or written evidence on oath. If he refused, the duke could be forced to attend in person.
But Andrew would have the right to 'plead the 5th Amendment' under the US Constitution and stay silent in order to not incriminate himself.
The MLA request is not the same as requesting Andrew's extradition.
That process could be launched only if he was considered a formal suspect and the FBI believed there was enough evidence to charge him.
Home Office sources have confirmed the request had been made. No decision has yet been made by UK officials.
Meanwhile, Harry Dunn's father said a deal involving Andrew and his son's alleged killer is a 'no brainer'.
Tim Dunn said his family need US suspect Anne Sacoolas back in the UK 'so that we can get justice and closure for the loss of our son'.
Epstein is pictured with Ghislaine Maxwell in New York in 2005. Lawyers for Miss Maxwell have previously said she denies any wrongdoing
The teenager's father also claimed that during a meeting with the Foreign Secretary in January, Dominic Raab said 'if we threaten the US, look at the size of them compared to the size of us', while discussing the response to the US's refusal to extradite Sacoolas.
The Dunn family joined forces with alleged victims of Epstein earlier this year to put pressure on Sacoolas and the Duke of York to 'co-operate with law enforcement'.
In a joint press conference in New York in February, Lisa Bloom, the lawyer representing six of Epstein's alleged victims, said the 'parallels between the two cases are eerie' and involved 'everyday teenagers' who were 'victimised'.
Sacoolas 42, allegedly killed 19-year-old Harry when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire in August last year.
Andrew is photographed with the disgraced Epstein in New York's Central Park in 2010
She claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to the US, sparking an international controversy.
She was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in December, but an extradition request submitted by the Home Office was refused the following month - a decision described by the US State Department as 'final'.
Commenting on the reported MLA request, Tim Dunn said: 'This is a no brainer to me. No one is above the law no matter who you are.
'Andrew is clearly wanted over in the US to help achieve justice for the victims of Epstein. We need Mrs Sacoolas back here so that we can get justice and closure for the loss of our son.'
Furious Prince Andrew hits back at paedophile Jeffrey Epstein prosecutors to insist he's offered to be a witness THREE times and accuses the US DoJ of treating him like a second class citizen and breaking their own confidentiality rules with leaks
![Furious Prince Andrew hits back at paedophile Jeffrey Epstein prosecutors to insist he's offered to be a witness THREE times and accuses the US DoJ of treating him like a second class citizen and breaking their own confidentiality rules with leaks]()
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June 10, 2020
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