Police under renewed pressure to investigate Andrew over Epstein ties after intervention from former minister
Authorities face renewed pressure to launch a full-scale investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein after a former trade secretary called on them to examine his role as UK trade envoy.
The former prince’s relationship with the pedophile financier has been under intense scrutiny as more evidence of his alleged involvement emerged in the release of the Epstein files.
Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor appears to have forwarded official reports to Mr. Epstein about his trips to Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam in 2010 and 2011, when he was the government’s trade envoy, according to emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Sir Vince Cable, whose tenure as trade secretary between 2010 and 2015 overlapped with Andrew’s ambassadorial duties, said the activity was “completely unacceptable” and called on police to launch a full investigation into his role.
He also told the BBC: “We need a police or DPP (director of public inquiry) check into whether there was criminal corruption and a government inquiry into how this was allowed to happen.”
This statement came after the UK attorney general, Stephen Parkinson, warned that “no one is above the law”; The director of public prosecutions said “no, of course not” when asked whether the royal family was above the law.
He added that he had “full confidence” that the police would be independent.
To talk Sunday Times, He said: “No one is above the law… It is my job to enforce the law and I do so without fear or favor and this is unaffected by the status of the person concerned.”
Emails released as part of the so-called Epstein files earlier this month appear to show the former Duke, who served as trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, sharing secret reports about his role as Britain’s trade envoy with the pedophile financier.
Trade ambassadors have a duty of confidentiality.
The King publicly expressed his “deep concern” over the abuse allegations against Andrew, while Buckingham Palace said it would “stand ready to provide support” to police if approached.
Despite efforts to draw a line on the issue when the king exiled Andrew and stripped him of his titles, much of the royal family’s work in recent weeks has been overshadowed by the Epstein scandal.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey claimed the files clearly stated that Andrew had “abused his position as trade envoy” and called for a public inquiry.
“Epstein’s revelations cause great damage to public confidence in our institutions. It is clear that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor abused his position as trade envoy, shared sensitive information about British interests with his friend and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein,” he said. Online Mail.
“The police are rightly investigating the matter as we need full transparency to ensure justice for the victims of this disgusting abuse. This should include a public inquiry.”
Labor MP Sarah Owen, who chairs the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee, said this week that Andrew should answer to the police and parliament over the allegations, while Labor MP Rachael Maskell told the BBC the former duke should be stripped of his succession rights to the throne.
“We need to know what’s going on in these circles, and so I think it would be right to be able to examine and have transparency and get to the bottom of all of these relationships,” he said.
“All of these titles and positions need to be addressed, so we are left with Andrew as a citizen and a fully responsible citizen.”
Thames Valley Police said last week it had held discussions with experts from the Crown Prosecution Service about allegations Andrew shared secret reports.
The force said: “Whilst we cannot give a timetable for when a decision will be made on whether a criminal investigation will be opened, we can assure you that Thames Valley Police are making progress as quickly as possible.”
Deputy Police Chief Oliver Wright said that they are leading the evaluation of allegations of abuses in public office, especially those related to documents in the United States Department of Justice’s Epstein files.
