Prince Andrew ‘not co-operating’ in Jeffrey Epstein probe, US prosecutor says

Prince Andrew has not been co-operating with authorities who want to interview him about his links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, a US prosecutor says.

US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman said prosecutors and the FBI have repeatedly contacted Prince Andrew’s lawyers to follow up on his previous pledge to help with the investigation.

Despite their efforts, Prince Andrew has to date “provided zero cooperation,” Mr Berman said.

He made the comments at an event to raise awareness for New York State’s Child Victims Act.

News.com.au has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.

Mr Berman’s remarks are at odds with comments Andrew made in a statement relating to the matter last year.

“Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required,” it read.

The Duke of York is under fire for his association with Epstein, who was facing child sex trafficking charges prior to his prison suicide death on August 10. The late financier was also accused of procuring young girls for his friends, including Andrew, who has vehemently denied the allegations.
 

Andrew announced last year that he was withdrawing from his royal duties amid renewed attention of his friendship with Epstein and a woman’s claim that she had several sexual encounters with the prince starting when she was 17.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre has said she had sex with Andrew three times at Epstein’s request, including once in London in 2001 at the home of Epstein’s girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Andrew and Maxwell have both denied any knowledge that Epstein was sexually abusing teenage girls.
 

In a recent television interview later described as a “trainwreck”, the Prince denied claims he slept with Ms Giuffre, whom he was pictured with in a notorious photograph where he had his arm around her waist when she was 17 years old.
 

Fierce backlash mounted against the Prince following the broadcast, with critics accusing him of not showing any empathy for Epstein’s victims. Prince Andrew previously acknowledged the criticism levelled at him in a statement.

“It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support,” he said.

“Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission.”

megan.palin@news.com.au | @Megan_Palin