Met Police facing questions over whether officers were used ‘as bouncers’ at Epstein party house as ex-PM Gordon Brown asks if Andrew used RAF bases to see paedophile
Scotland Yard was facing questions on Sunday over allegations that the police guarding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor acted as guards at a dinner party hosted by Jeffrey Epstein.
Newly released emails suggest taxpayer-funded bodyguards were instructed to provide security for a celebrity party held at the pedophile’s New York home in honor of the visiting royal.
The revelation risks dragging one of the King’s most senior aides into scandal; because Peter Loughborough was head of the Met’s royal protection team at the time of the incident in 2010, before becoming Lord Commissioner of the Royal Household.
Emails released by the US Department of Justice suggest that Epstein’s staff told two royal protection officers from the Metropolitan Police to guard the door of his East 71st Street mansion while guests attended dinner on December 2, 2010.
Andrew previously claimed he traveled to New York only to ‘cut ties’ with Epstein after he was convicted of soliciting child prostitution in Florida in 2008. The couple was famously photographed chatting and walking in Central Park.
But it has since been revealed that Epstein threw a lavish dinner party for Andrew, inviting guests including Hollywood director Woody Allen, US news presenters Katie Couric and George Stephanopoulos, comedian Chelsea Handler and talk show host Charlie Rose.
Sir Mick Jagger was also invited but could not attend.
In an email titled ‘Security for the party’, a member of staff wrote to Epstein: ‘The Duke’s 2 body guards and state security will be here for the dinner party tomorrow… Rich gave them instructions at the door. ‘Do you want Rich to stay for the party, or is it okay for him to go home?’
Newly released emails suggest taxpayer-funded security guards were instructed to secure a party held in honor of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Jeffrey Epstein’s New York home (pictured)
Sex offender Epstein (pictured) threw a lavish dinner party for Andrew and invited guests including Woody Allen, Katie Couric, George Stephanopoulos, Chelsea Handler and Charlie Rose.
Former prime minister Gordon Brown (pictured) called for a police investigation into whether Andrew used taxpayer-funded jets and RAF bases to meet Epstein
The reference to ‘state security’ indicates that US diplomatic guards were also involved. ‘Rich’ is believed to be Richard Barnett, Epstein’s chief engineer and security fixer.
On Friday, the Met said Andrew’s former guard officers had been contacted to establish whether they had witnessed any possible wrongdoing.
Toughening up earlier language, the force said: ‘They have been asked to consider carefully whether anything they have seen or heard during their time in service is relevant to our ongoing investigations and to share any information that may assist us.’
Police did not comment on the latest email regarding security guards at the event.
It came as former prime minister Gordon Brown demanded a police investigation into whether Andrew used taxpayer-funded jets and RAF bases to meet the pedophile.
In letters to six police forces, he called for officers to be brought in for questioning about the former Duke of York’s time as trade ambassador between 2001 and 2011, including almost three years when Mr Brown was in the 10th position.
The former Labor leader asked police to meet with officials from the Ministry of Defence, Department for Transport, Foreign Office and Treasury about Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s behaviour.
On one occasion, a jet carrying Epstein and his wife Ghislaine Maxwell touched down at Luton airport before heading to RAF Marham with two additional passengers, one of whom is listed as an unnamed ‘woman’, according to flight records.
