Can Prince Andrew face prosecution over Jeffrey Epstein paperwork?

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Prince Andrew’s royal standing wouldn’t defend him from felony prosecution within the US over his hyperlinks to Jeffrey Epstein, a number one lawyer has warned – however it’s unlikely he would ever be extradited.

Top felony defence lawyer Duncan Levin, who beforehand served as an assistant US legal professional, stated there’s “nothing barring” the federal authorities from arresting Andrew, the Duke of York, if he units foot on US soil after sexual assault allegations resurfaced in courtroom paperwork.

While an arrest of that “magnitude” would require log out from the best ranges of the Department of Justice, latest circumstances in opposition to former US President Donald Trump present that no-one is above the regulation, Mr Levin stated.

But he believes it’s “unlikely” the US federal authorities wouldn ever search to extradite the royal – who denies any wrongdoing.

Mr Levin instructed The Independent: “There’s nothing barring the federal government from arresting Prince Andrew.

“If I were advising Andrew I would want him to be aware of the possibility of arrest in the US. That possibility might be enough to stop him coming here.

“Our system of justice doesn’t place anybody above the law – as we have seen with the prosecution of Trump. A prince, a king, a queen, a president – none of that matters in the US.”

The feedback come amid recent calls from anti-monarchy group Republic for felony probes into intercourse assault allegations in opposition to Andrew, 63, which resurfaced in a tranche of newly launched US courtroom paperwork often known as the Epstein information.

The royal has been named 70 instances within the sensational papers which had been unsealed by a New York decide, as soon as once more shining a lightweight on his hyperlinks to the disgraced paedophile billionaire.

The trove of interviews and transcripts embrace allegations that the Duke of York had an orgy with underage ladies and touched a girl’s breast whereas posing with a Spitting Image puppet of himself throughout his friendship with the disgraced financier.

It comes after Andrew in 2022 paid thousands and thousands to settle a US civil case introduced by Virginia Guiffre, who alleged she was sexually assaulted by the Duke on three events when she was 17, together with in London in 2001, after being trafficked by Epstein. Andrew has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.

The royal has not confronted any felony investigation both at house or within the US.

The Metropolitan Police stated in 2021 they had been taking no additional motion over the allegations, whereas he’s understood to have by no means submitted to an FBI interview over his hyperlinks to Epstein. 

But following the discharge of the courtroom papers, which shaped proof in a settled defamation case introduced by Guiffre in opposition to Epstein’s madam Ghislaine Maxwell, there have been renewed requires him to face justice.

Anti-monarchy group Republic this week introduced that they had reported Andrew to police, complaining “no serious criminal investigation” into the allegations has ever taken place.

Their chief govt Graham Smith stated: “The question many people will be asking is simple: if the accused were anyone else, do we believe they wouldn’t have been investigated and prosecuted?”

While US legal professional Spencer Kuvin, who has represented a few of Epstein’s victims, insists the royal nonetheless has inquiries to reply.

“Andrew still refuses to fully account for his time with Epstein and has failed to speak with US investigators about what he knows. British police need to do their duty and reopen their investigation into his conduct,” he instructed the Mirror.

On Friday the Met stated it is going to assess any “new and relevant information” after the papers had been made public, however stated no investigation into the Duke has been launched.

Why wasn’t he extradited over Virginia Guiffre’s sexual assault case?

Ms Guiffre filed a lawsuit in opposition to Andrew in a federal courtroom in New York in August 2021, nonetheless – crucially – the declare was civil and never felony. You can not face extradition for a civil case.

She stated she was the sufferer of abuse and intercourse trafficking by the hands of Epstein, who lent her out to different highly effective males, allegedly together with Prince Andrew. She accused Andrew of sexual assault on three events when she was 17 – as soon as at Maxwell’s home in Belgravia, as soon as at Epstein’s New York mansion and a 3rd time at Epstein’s non-public island Little St James, within the US Virgin Islands.

In March 2022 he agreed a settlement price thousands and thousands together with his accuser, ending the case. The out-of-court settlement accepted no legal responsibility and Prince Andrew has all the time strongly rejected claims of wrongdoing

Will there be a UK felony probe?

The Metropolitan Police introduced in October 2021 it had closed a evaluation of claims made in Ms Giuffre’s US civil sexual assault swimsuit in opposition to Prince Andrew and was taking no additional motion.

In August 2022, the pressure stated it might was taking no additional motion on allegations in opposition to Epstein himself, including that any additional investigations into human trafficking by the intercourse offender shall be targeted on actions and relationships outdoors the UK.

A spokesman stated: “In the absence of any further information we will be taking no further action. As with any other matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it.”

After the newest Epstein information had been made public, they added that they may “assess” any related data however stated they weren’t investigating Andrew.

A spokesman added: “We are aware of the release of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein. As with any matter, should new and relevant information be brought to our attention we will assess it. No investigation has been launched.”

Will there be a US felony probe?

Since his hyperlinks to Epstein had been uncovered, Andrew has got here beneath intense strain to cooperate with an FBI investigation into the financier, who died awaiting trial in a New York jail.

In 2020 US legal professional for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman took the extraordinary step of saying from the steps of Epstein’s Upper East Side mansion in New York that prosecutors and the FBI had repeatedly contacted the Duke of York’s legal professionals to comply with up on a earlier pledge that he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency”.

However no such interview has ever taken place, The Independent understands.

US lawyer Mr Levin stated, relying on the proof, in precept the US federal authorities might pursue expenses in opposition to Andrew or arrest him if he ever returns to America, however it’s “unlikely” they might search to extradite him.

He added: “It depends on evidence. A lot of time has passed. If convicted they are serious crimes.”