Prince Andrew, reportedly, offered to help the United States three times in its inquiry over the cases of his friend, Jeffrey Epstein. However, Prince Andrew's legal team says that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) was more interested in seeking publicity than in closing their investigation.
The Duke of York issued a statement Monday as the U.S. has formally asked the U.K. for Prince Andrew to testify in the Epstein sex trafficking case. His lawyers reiterated that Prince Andrew offered his help, which the U.S. DOJ rebuffed by breaching confidentiality.
Prince Andrew's lawyers cite that the DOJ told the press Prince Andrew had "zero cooperation" or "shut the door" into the Epstein investigations. The lawyers said that these were publicity stunts by Geoffrey S. Berman, the U.S. district attorney in New York, when they have previously discussed that the interview process with Prince Andrew must be highly confidential.
The royal's lawyers also said that Prince Andrew received treatment from the U.S. DOJ that was of "lower standard" than what is reasonably expected of a witness. Prince Andrew was told by the DOJ that he was never the target of the case involving Epstein's crimes against minors and women.
Sources told The Sun, however, that the DOJ had to "up the ante" when they got nowhere with the Epstein case from Prince Andrew's legal team early in the year. The agency filed a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) request from the U.K. Home Office in May, which has yet to be approved or denied.
The Home Office refused to confirm nor deny if such an MLA existed, per The Guardian. The same goes for the U.S. DOJ, whose spokesperson said it will not publicly comment on any communications regarding the probe.
Epstein was found dead by suicide in his prison cell in August 2019. He was awaiting trial for cases involving sex trafficking. The billionaire was previously incarcerated for a similar crime involving different victims but he was released from prison more than 12 years ago.
Prince Andrew developed a friendship with Epstein, who had many high-profile friends, including former President Bill Clinton. Sources claimed that they saw Prince Andrew with some of Epstein's girls on his private island.
One of the women has come forward accusing Prince Andrew of having sexual relations with her when she was a minor, as prodded and pimped by Epstein. The royal has denied any wrongdoing or having ever met his accuser, Virginia Roberts Guiffre.
