Pressure on Duke to speak to FBI

The Government hopes the Duke of York will agree to speak directly to the FBI over his links to Ghislaine Maxwell without the need for ministers to intervene, the Sunday Telegraph has learnt.

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, is facing a diplomatic quandary after US prosecutors submitted a formal request for Prince Andrew to speak to them about claims Maxwell trafficked young women for sex for Jeffrey Epstein. Their request was made through the filing of a Mutual Legal Assistance to the Home Office, as part of an agreement allowing the US to seek help from British authorities in a legal or criminal matter.

But it is now understood the Government is in favour of the stand-off between the Duke and the FBI being sorted out between the two parties, rather than by any ministerial intervention under a MLA.

The Duke had a long friendship with Epstein and stayed at his homes, including the financier’s mansion in New York and his home in the US Virgin Islands. Prosecutors believe he could have vital information as a witness rather than a suspect, although the Duke insists he never saw nor suspected any wrongdoing during the times he stayed at Epstein’s homes. As a potential witness Prince Andrew cannot be compelled to talk to the FBI, but the matter threatens to become deeply embarrassing for the Home Office following the submission of the MLA.

Maxwell is accused of lying about Epstein’s sexual activities, including the recruitment of underage girls for sexual massages. The perjury allegations are the only charges brought against Ms Maxwell to date that relate to a period of time when the Duke knew Epstein. The more serious offences of child sex trafficking and grooming are alleged to have taken place between 1994 and 1997, two years before Prince Andrew was introduced to the paedophile.

The Duke’s lawyers say they twice contacted the US Department of Justice in the past month but received no response.