Prince Andrew hasn't responded to FBI inquiry about Jeffery Epstein
(dpa)
New York (tca/dpa) - Federal prosecutors have requested to interview Prince Andrew about Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking operation but have not yet received a response, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said Monday.
Andrew has long denied allegations that Epstein loaned him underage girls for sex. The ongoing scandal prompted Andrew to take a step back from his public role in the British Royal Family after he gave a disastrous TV interview about his ties to Epstein.
Federal investigators said that, after Epstein's suicide behind bars while awaiting trial for sex trafficking, they are continuing to investigate Epstein's circle of enablers.
"Ordinarily, our office doesn't comment on whether an individual cooperates or doesn't cooperate with our investigation. However, in Prince Andrew's case, he publicly offered - indeed in a press release - offered to cooperate with law enforcement investigating the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators," Berman said at a news conference outside Epstein's Upper East Side townhouse.
The conference was in support of extending the Child Victims Act in New York state, which would allow victims of childhood sexual abuse another year to file lawsuits against abusers, no matter the statute of limitations.
"I think in that context it's fair for people to know whether Prince Andrew has followed through with that public commitment. So let me say that the Southern District of New York and the FBI have contacted Prince Andrew's attorneys and requested to interview Prince Andrew, and to date Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation," Berman added.
"Ordinarily, our office doesn't comment on whether an individual cooperates or doesn't cooperate with our investigation. However, in Prince Andrew's case, he publicly offered - indeed in a press release - offered to cooperate with law enforcement investigating the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators," Berman said at a news conference outside Epstein's Upper East Side townhouse.
The conference was in support of extending the Child Victims Act in New York state, which would allow victims of childhood sexual abuse another year to file lawsuits against abusers, no matter the statute of limitations.
"I think in that context it's fair for people to know whether Prince Andrew has followed through with that public commitment. So let me say that the Southern District of New York and the FBI have contacted Prince Andrew's attorneys and requested to interview Prince Andrew, and to date Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation," Berman added.