Government wants Duke to talk to FBI voluntarily
Prince Andrew for questioning.
The father-of-two has previously claimed he has offered three times to be a witness in the FBI’s case, but US prosecutors say 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 see him questioned in court about his links to Epstein.
Andrew’s lawyers said the move was a cynical publicity stunt, accusing US officials of breaking their own rules while telling lies.
Over the weekend, pictures emerged of the socialite and Kevin Spacey sitting on thrones several times belonging to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh during a visit to Buckingham Palace in 2002.
The House Of Cards actor’s career collapsed in November 2017 following several allegations of assault and harassment.
Charges against him in the US were dropped last July, and he denies most of the claims.
Six allegations were sexual made against him in London. Miss Giuffre has accused Andrew of having slept with her three times in 2001 while she was the America billionaire’s “teenage sex slave”.
The Prince and his legal team have vehemently denied her claims.
Epstein committed suicide last August as he awaited trial for underage sex trafficking.
He died, aged 66, in Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correctional Centre where Maxwell could be held ahead of her trial in New York.
Epstein’s death occurred little over a month after he was arrested and charged with trafficking dozens of underage girls as young as 14 from at least 2002 to 2005.
MINISTERS are said to be keen for Prince Andrew to speak to the FBI over his links to Ghislaine Maxwell – and avoid a diplomatic stand-off with the US.
Government officials are fearful if the Duke of York does not comply voluntarily they will be forced to intervene.
US prosecutors have submitted a formal request for Andrew to be interviewed.
They want to speak with him about his friendship with the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and claims that Maxwell, 58, trafficked young women for the US financier.
The US Department of Justice filed a Mutual Legal Assistance request to the British Government hoping to force Andrew into providing a statement or to agree to an interview.
The request was made as part of a pact allowing the US to seek help from
British authorities in legal or criminal matters.
According to reports, ministers are keen for the matter to be resolved by the FBI and the Duke, saving them from an intervention.
No decision has been made yet over the request, that was filed last month.
If the application is handled by the Home Office and is successful, the Duke could be forced to give evidence.
He could then be asked to voluntarily attend an interview and give a signed statement.
If Andrew refuses, he could be forced to attend in person by summons. US lawyers would then be able to question him.
Unlike the Queen, Andrew does not hold sovereign immunity from prosecution.
Following Maxwell’s arrest last week, US prosecutors said they would “welcome” the Duke’s testimony for the investigation.