Andrew ‘needs to know he can trust US prosecutors’
PRINCE Andrew wants US investigators into a sex trafficking ring to “build a relationship of trust” with him, it emerged yesterday.
A source close to Andrew called for Geoffrey Berman, the US attorney leading the investigation into Andrew’s late friend Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, to stop criticising him publicly over his failure to so far give evidence.
“They need to do something to build a relationship of trust,” a source said, playing down reports that the Queen’s son believed Mr Berman’s criticism had made it impossible for him to co-operate.
As the FBI closes in on the inner circle that helped his paedophile pal Epstein prey on underage girls, the two sides still cannot agree the terms under which Andrew, 60, can be interviewed as a witness.
Investigators want him to volunteer information about Epstein, who was found hanged at the age of 66 last August in a New York prison cell where he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
On Monday Andrew complained through his lawyers that he was being treated as a second-class citizen by the US justice system.
He insisted it was “entirely misleading” for Mr Berman to say he had offered “zero co-operation”.
Tensions were sparked in January this year after the Duke’s legal team contacted Mr Berman saying he was prepared to talk.
His lawyers asked for 14 days in which to set the parameters in which he would co-operate.
It did not discount the possibility of Andrew undergoing a face-toface interview with US officials.
But a week later Mr Berman claimed there had been “a wall of silence” and “zero co-operation”.
Several women, including American Teala Davies, are suing the late financier’s estate over alleged sexual abuse.
It has also emerged that the Prince is one of four British people the FBI wants to question over their relationship with Epstein.
Increasing interest is being paid to the US sex offender’s relationship to the UK, following claims by two of his victims that girls were trafficked to and from this country.
Other than the Duke of York, Epstein’s alleged “madam” Ghislaine Maxwell, 58, and two other British women are believed to hold information that could be helpful to their investigation.
The two other women, who both reside here, are seen as witnesses. A source said new claims “include claims he [Epstein] was flying girls over from the UK for him to abuse as well as Virginia Giuffre’s allegation”.
Ms Giuffre has claimed in a US court that she was flown around the world by Epstein, including on one occasion – in March 2001 – to London to have sex with Prince Andrew.
The Prince has vehemently denied her allegation, saying he had never met Ms Giuffre, then aged 17.