The FBI investigation concerning Prince Andrew and his association with the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein has been temporarily suspended.
New York authorities have suspended their inquiry into the Duke of York unless new information emerges that can advance the case.
The judgment follows more than four years since former US attorney Geoffrey Berman criticized the prince for failing to fulfill his vow to engage with investigators, asserting that the royal had offered “zero cooperation” to the FBI's inquiry.
“The agents and attorneys who have, for years, worked diligently looking into Andrew’s friendship with Epstein are beyond frustrated. They’re angry that the probe has been parked. But the truth be told, no new leads have been discovered for quite some time, and until new evidence is presented that can move the case forward, it has been shelved," an unnamed source told The Mirror.
Last night, a victim of the deceased Epstein during her adolescence characterized the action as a “systematic cover-up.” The 36-year-old, who received compensation from the Wall Street financier's victim fund, stated: "All of us who have persistently sought justice anticipated that this day would eventually arrive."
“From the very beginning, we have been denied our voices, brushed under the carpet, and told to be quiet. The government always says that no one is above the law, but we all know that is untrue. For the past three decades, we have been party to a systematic cover-up, and this is now the final part of that," he added.
According to sources, the investigation, which involves other prominent and influential figures, has experienced a progressive reduction in hours dedicated to the case since the conclusion of last year. Nonetheless, this has been expedited in recent months as resources are being reallocated to other significant cases, like the prominent investigation against hip-hop tycoon Sean “Diddy” Combs.
The legal source asserted that “hundreds of potential leads and dozens of possible victims have emerged in the Diddy investigation over the past month,” considerably taxing federal investigators’ time and resources.
“It’s all hands on deck right now,” the source added. “The sheer volume of information being gathered in the Combs case is comparable to when the Epstein investigation first broke wide open.
It stated that they lack the resources to maintain every case at total capacity, and currently, the Diddy case is monopolizing most investigative efforts. Notwithstanding the considerable public interest in Andrew's association with Epstein, the Southern District of New York (SDNY) is not anticipated to officially disclose the investigation's status by protocol.
A second source has stated that the inquiry into Duke, 64, has been suspended indefinitely. Currently, resources are being allocated elsewhere, he asserted. The authorities and agencies have aggregated their findings on Prince Andrew from years of investigations; nonetheless, the situation remains unresolved.
The inquiry involving the king has been a source of dispute for years. Despite the Duke not being regarded as a criminal suspect, the FBI viewed him as a crucial witness, keeping an open perspective. Despite allegations from Epstein's accuser, Virginia Giuffre, claiming that the American financier facilitated her encounters with the Duke at least three times, the prince and his legal team have categorically denied any misconduct.
The victims of the millionaire and Berman have persistently urged Andrew to undergo sworn testimony regarding his associations with the convicted sex offender, although advancements have stagnated. In 2020, while serving as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the lawyer made the uncommon decision to criticize Andrew openly.
He accused the Duke of "attempting to misrepresent himself" as willing to assist the Epstein investigation before alleging that Andrew offered "no cooperation." Berman asserted that, contrary to public declarations, the prince had "consistently refused" requests for an interview appointment.
Prince Andrew's legal team refuted his allegations, asserting that the Duke proposed to aid authorities on at least three occasions, BBC reported. Nonetheless, no formal interview occurred, and with the Epstein investigation effectively suspended, it seems increasingly improbable that US authorities will ever interrogate Prince Andrew.
A pivotal individual who may still reveal additional evidence is Ghislaine Maxwell, Andrew's companion and former associate of Epstein. The 62-year-old British socialite is presently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of trafficking underage girls for her former boyfriend's exploitation and has thus far refrained from making any statements.
Maxwell's collaboration would be essential for reinstating the inquiry against Prince Andrew; nevertheless, many in her inner circle assert that she would "never" communicate with the FBI over the king. John Walsh, a prominent US criminologist and advocate for victims' rights, is one of the most outspoken critics of Andrew's affiliation with Epstein, as per Irish Mirror.
Walsh, renowned for hosting America’s Most Wanted, has been a vocal proponent for Epstein’s victims and has consistently urged US and UK authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into Andrew’s connections with the pedophile and Maxwell. “What is the status of the joint investigation between the United States and Great Britain?” Walsh stated.
“What has anybody done? Where is the evidence linking Prince Andrew to Epstein? Why hasn’t he been questioned?” Walsh expressed frustration over what he perceives as a lack of action by law enforcement on both sides of the Atlantic.
“This is a man who paid a settlement to someone,” Walsh said, referring to Andrew’s out-of-court £12 million deal with Giuffre to end a civil lawsuit she brought against him for sexual assault. “How can we not have clarity on his involvement?” he added.
Walsh is among numerous notable individuals demanding accountability. Gloria Allred, a prominent civil rights attorney in the United States, has expressed significant criticism on Andrew's insufficient cooperation with the FBI. The renowned attorney, who has advocated for Epstein’s victims, articulated astonishment that US authorities have not officially interrogated the Duke.
“He’s got a lot of explaining to do,” Allred said. “To the best of my knowledge, Prince Andrew still hasn’t done an interview with law enforcement despite publicly claiming he’s willing to cooperate. Until he does, there will always be a dark cloud hanging over him.”
While the investigation, which includes Prince Andrew, remains “parked,” the legal source warned the royal “should not breathe a sigh of relief just yet.”
“There’s still time for a development,” they said, “but unless new evidence comes to light, it’s not likely to be pursued further.” Epstein was discovered deceased in his cell at a federal facility in Manhattan in August 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking allegations. The demise was classified as a suicide.
Business Times has reached out to Prince Andrew for comments.
