The Authorities feared it will be sued by Andrew in the event that they helped the FBI summon him to testify.
The Authorities feared it will be sued by Andrew in the event that they helped the FBI summon him to testify (Picture: Getty)
The British authorities feared it will be sued by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor if it made him face questioning within the US over Jeffrey Epstein, bombshell new paperwork have revealed. In response to emails within the Epstein Recordsdata, officers on the House Workplace voiced considerations that the previous prince may launch authorized motion on the Excessive Court docket in the event that they helped the FBI summon the previous Duke to testify.
Through the 2020 US investigation into the paedophile financier, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor repeatedly declined requests to provide a voluntary interview. His legal professionals insisted that he would offer solely a signed written assertion and refused to journey to the US or seem by way of video hyperlink. This led the Division of Justice (DoJ) to submit a proper demand – often known as a mutual authorized help (MLA) request – to the House Workplace, asking them to compel him to talk to him.
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Nevertheless, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor by no means spoke to prosecutors and has so far by no means assisted the FBI in its Epstein probe. Now, new emails might assist clarify why the DoJ’s efforts failed.
Civil servants in Whitehall have been involved that Blackfords would launch authorized motion on the Excessive Court docket (Picture: Getty)
Civil servants in Whitehall have been involved that Blackfords – the legislation agency representing Mr Mountbatten-Windsor – may contest any help provided to US authorities via the British courts, emails counsel.
In response to The Solar, the doc states: “They [The UK Home Office] count on that when they approve the MLA and refer it to the police that the Blackfords will file a judicial assessment motion.
“Blackfords will argue that since they’ve provided voluntary cooperation as just lately as early June, the House Workplace did not correctly apply its inner tips, and the courtroom ought to direct the House Workplace to vacate its approval of the MLA request and ship it again to the US to interact on a voluntary foundation with the Prince’s crew.”
Geoffrey Berman has claimed that British authorities protected the previous prince throughout his probe (Picture: Getty)
The fears expressed by the British authorities appeared to confuse the American aspect, who fumed: “All we wish to do is ask some questions,” it has been reported.
The US Legal professional who led the investigation into Epstein in New York has since claimed that British authorities protected the previous prince throughout his probe. Geoffrey Berman wrote in his 2022 e-book: “We received completely nowhere. Have been they defending him? I presume somebody was”.
Following his extensively criticised Newsnight interview in November 2019, Andrew withdrew from public duties, and in 2025 he formally relinquished the title of “Prince”. In February, he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace in reference to Epstein, although he has not been charged.
A House Workplace spokesperson mentioned: “Our ideas stay with the victims of Epstein, who’ve lived with unimaginable trauma, and this authorities will do every thing in its energy to make sure accountability is delivered.”
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