Andrew should give evidence on Epstein to Congress, Starmer suggests
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should be prepared to share “relevant information” about his links to pedophilia financier Jeffrey Epstein, Sir Keir Starmer has said.
The Prime Minister refused to comment specifically about the disgraced former royal, but said as a “general principle” anyone who knew the relevant details should be prepared to disclose them.
American lawmakers have criticized Andrew for what they described as “silence” during their investigation into pedophile financier Epstein, who committed suicide in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.
Members of the House Oversight Committee had requested a “written interview” with the former prince due to his “longstanding friendship” with Epstein.
But Democrats Robert Garcia and Suhas Subramanyam accused Andrew of hiding after saying they had not heard from him.
Asked whether Andrew would assist with the investigation, Sir Keir told journalists traveling with him to the Johannesburg G20 summit: “I am not commenting on his specific situation.
“But the general principle that I have held for a very long time is that anyone who has information about such cases should make this evidence available to those who need it.
“That’s my general stance on this.”
Asked whether this would apply to Andrew, the Labor leader said: “Ultimately it will be a decision for him.
“But my general view is that if you have relevant information, you should be prepared to share it.”
Andrew, who was stripped of his titles as prince and Duke of York earlier this month, denies any wrongdoing.
She was exiled from the monarchy for “serious errors of judgment” regarding her relationship with convicted sex offender Epstein and was made a private citizen by her brother the King.
The move follows the posthumous publication of the memoirs of the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager, and the US government’s release of documents from Epstein’s estate.
The Metropolitan Police are investigating allegations that Andrew gave Ms Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number to his taxpayer-funded bodyguard in 2011 and asked him to investigate.
