FBI charges Prince’s pal with child grooming for Epstein

FBI arrest Andrew’s pal over grooming young girls

entice, groom and abuse children under the age of 18. She befriended the innocent, attempted to normalise sexual abuse and worked to put victims at ease, aware for the entire time of the abuse that would follow.”

Maxwell appeared by video link before Judge Andrea Johnstone, who formally read her charges. She was remanded to the custody of US Marshals, who will take her to New York. A bail hearing will take place there at a later date. Following Epstein’s suicide last August as he awaited trial for underage sex trafficking, the FBI placed his relationship with Maxwell at the heart of their investigation.

The daughter of disgraced media tycoon Robert will now be quizzed about her friendship with Epstein and her associates who include the Duke of York. She has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Dad-of-two Andrew and his lawyers have previously claimed he offered three times to be a witness in the FBI’S case, but US prosecutors insist he has declined their request for interview adding he has provided “zero co-operation”. The US Department of Justice has since formally asked the Home Office for help to question the Duke, which could end with him grilled in court. Andrew’s lawyers branded the move a cynical publicity stunt, accusing US officials of breaking their own rules and lying.

A source close to the Prince said: “The Duke’s team remains bewildered given that we have twice communicated with the DOJ in the last month, and to-date, we have had no response.”

Giuffre, 36, has claimed while Epstein’s “teenage sex slave” she was forced to sleep with