Former Prince Andrew arrested over suspected misconduct in public workplace revealed in Epstein information

London — The previous Prince Andrew, now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested Thursday for suspected misconduct in public workplace after revelations within the Jeffrey Epstein information. King Charles III’s youthful brother was arrested on his 66th birthday, about two weeks after an anti-royal group known as for police to analyze paperwork indicating that Andrew shared confidential authorities info with the late American intercourse offender when the royal labored as a British commerce envoy.

The Thames Valley Police power confirmed simply over every week in the past that it was assessing claims in opposition to Mountbatten-Windsor that emerged within the newest launch of Epstein information by the U.S. Justice Division to find out whether or not a proper investigation was warranted. 

In a assertion on Thursday, the Thames Valley Police confirmed that, “as a part of the investigation, now we have at the moment (19/2) arrested a person in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace and are finishing up searches at addresses in Berkshire and Norfolk.” It mentioned the person, who it didn’t title according to police procedures, “stays in police custody at the moment.”

Shortly after 8 a.m. native time (3 a.m. Jap), six unmarked police autos had been seen arriving at Wooden Farm, Andrew’s new residence on King Charles’ Sandringham property in Norfolk, jap England. The Reuters information company mentioned later that police had been additionally seen Thursday at Royal Lodge, Mountbatten-Windsor’s former residence on the royal household’s Windsor property close to London.

If Andrew is ultimately charged with misconduct in public workplace, the offense carries a most attainable sentence of life in jail in Britain.

King Charles says “the legislation should take its course”

King Charles, in a press release launched Thursday, mentioned he had “discovered with the deepest concern the information about Andrew
Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public workplace.”

“What now follows is the complete, truthful and correct course of by which this situation is investigated within the acceptable method and by the suitable authorities. On this, as I’ve mentioned earlier than, they’ve our full and wholehearted assist and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the legislation should take its course,” the king mentioned, including that he wouldn’t be commenting additional amid the investigation into his brother, and that the remainder of the royal household would “proceed in our responsibility and
service to you all.”

In an interview earlier Thursday with CBS Information’ accomplice community BBC Information, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned, “no person is above legislation” when he was requested about Mountbatten-Windsor.

“I feel that is a matter for the police, they may conduct their very own investigations, however one of many core ideas in our system is that everyone is equal below the legislation and no person is above the legislation,” Starmer mentioned. 

Final week, Buckingham Palace mentioned in a press release on behalf of the king that the royal household would cooperate if police got here asking questions on Mountbatten-Windsor.  

“The King has made clear, in phrases and thru unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which proceed to return to mild in respect of Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct,” a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace mentioned in a press release. “Whereas the precise claims in query are for Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor to deal with, if we’re approached by Thames Valley Police we stand able to assist them as you’ll count on.”

CBS Information has sought remark from Mountbatten-Windsor’s representatives repeatedly for the reason that Epstein information first revealed his shut ties with Epstein. He didn’t reply, however prior to now had all the time denied any wrongdoing.

Virginia Giuffre’s household reacts to Andrew’s arrest

King Charles stripped his brother of his royal titles final 12 months amid intense scrutiny over Andrew’s friendship with Epstein and accusations made by American Virginia Giuffre that she was trafficked to interact in intercourse with Mountbatten-Windsor when she was underage.

Mountbatten-Windsor denied these allegations, however reached a settlement with Giuffre in 2022, paying her round $16 million, in response to British media reviews. Giuffre died by suicide final 12 months.

“Eventually, at the moment, our damaged hearts have been lifted on the information that nobody is above the legislation, not even royalty,” Giuffre’s siblings mentioned in a press release shared with CBS Information on Thursday. “On behalf of our sister, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, we lengthen our gratitude to the U.Ok.’s Thames Valley Police for his or her investigation, and the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He was by no means a prince. For survivors all over the place, Virginia did this for you.”

Mountbatten-Windsor had beforehand instructed that an undated picture displaying him with Giuffre and shut Epstein affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell might have been faked, and Maxwell made the identical declare in a jailhouse interview in early 2023, however among the many paperwork launched by the U.S. authorities this 12 months was a draft e-mail that seems to indicate Maxwell confirming its authenticity.

Within the message, despatched by “G Maxwell” to Epstein in 2015, she wrote: “In 2001 I used to be in London when [name redacted] met quite a few pals of mine together with Prince Andrew. {A photograph} was taken as I think about she wished to indicate it to family and friends.”

Giuffre had claimed that she was pressured to have intercourse with Andrew in Florida when she was 17 years previous, after being trafficked to the encounter by Maxwell.

What’s within the Epstein information about Andrew?

Whereas earlier allegations about Andrew’s actions within the Epstein information largely centered across the former prince’s alleged encounters with younger ladies along with Epstein, the anti-monarchy group Republic known as earlier this month for a proper investigation over his actions as a British commerce official. 

Emails among the many tens of millions of paperwork launched by the U.S. Justice Division on Jan. 30 seem to indicate the previous prince handed on confidential reviews on his visits as an official British commerce envoy to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam, together with particulars of funding alternatives.

One e-mail thread exhibits that after he traveled to Asia, on Nov. 30, 2010, Mountbatten-Windsor forwarded official reviews on his visits, despatched to him by his then-special adviser Amit Patel, to Epstein, simply minutes after he obtained them. There was no message from the then-prince to Epstein accompanying the forwarded message.

One other e-mail trade between the boys the next month seems to indicate Mountbatten-Windsor sharing information he describes as “a confidential transient” on potential funding alternatives in southern Afghanistan, the place British forces had been based mostly on the time.

Then-Prince Andrew mentioned he was sharing the paperwork with Epstein to hunt his “feedback, views or concepts as to whom I might additionally usefully present this to draw some curiosity” within the alternatives described within the transient.

The allegations echoed related revelations from the most recent tranche of Epstein information that counsel former British Ambassador to america Peter Mandelson shared confidential authorities info with the late American financier. The London Metropolitan Police confirmed an investigation into his actions earlier this month.

The choice by Starmer to faucet Mandelson for the important thing diplomatic submit introduced big stress on the U.Ok. chief to resign, although following the resignation of his chief of workers, Starmer appeared prone to grasp onto his job, not less than in the intervening time.