Epstein backlash hits Prince
LONDON: Prince Andrew announced on Wednesday that he would step back from public life, seeking to contain a firestorm over his ties to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein that threatened to scorch the entire British royal family.
The prince’s extraordinary statement capped a tumultuous four days since his televised interview about Epstein, which brought a storm of negative coverage, prompted companies with ties to the prince’s charities to distance themselves from him, and rekindled calls for him to testify to the FBI about his tangled history with Epstein, who was accused of sex trafficking.
“It has become clear to me over the past few days that my 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,” Prince Andrew said in a statement.
“Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I can step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission,” said the prince, who is also known as the Duke of York and is the second son of Queen Elizabeth II.
The duke, 59, had hoped that the interview, broadcast last Saturday by the BBC, would put to rest lingering questions about his ties to Epstein, as well as accusations that he had sex with a teenage girl who had been supplied to him by his friend.
US lawyer Lisa Bloom, who represents five women allegedly assaulted by Epstein, said that Prince Andrew should speak to everyone probing the allegations — including her.
“All of the staff who work for Prince Andrew should come and give information and evidence and the documents should be turned over so we can get to the bottom of this,” said Ms Bloom yesterday. “Everybody should have to answer questions if they have relevant information — and he clearly does have relevant information.”
Several newspapers said the former Royal Navy officer’s reputation was in tatters and speculated about whether he could ever return to formal royal duties. The Sun called the statement “a desperate attempt to fix the appalling failures of his TV interview over the Epstein scandal”.
The BBC is expected to air more revelations from one of Epstein’s victims in the coming days.