Prince Andrew ‘preparing for subpoena’ to force him to testify to US investigation into Jeffrey Epstein
Royal announces he will step down from public duties for ‘foreseeable future’, an unprecedented move in modern times, after backlash to interview about links with billionaire paedophile
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Your support makes all the difference.Prince Andrew could give formal evidence under oath to a US investigation into billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and is reportedly preparing himself to testify.
Buckingham Palace is said to be braced for US authorities to issue the duke with a subpoena demanding he answer questions in court about his friendship with Epstein, The Daily Telegraph reports. The newspaper says the subpoena could be “imminent”.
It comes after a lawyer for some of the American sex offender’s alleged victims has said the Duke of York “must cooperate” with US authorities investigating Epstein.
Asked how Andrew could become involved in a legal process, Lisa Bloom told BBC Breakfast: “I, as an attorney, have the right to subpoena witnesses to come and take depositions, those are out-of-court statements where they swear to tell the truth, they come into my office and they have to answer my questions, if I as an attorney deem the individual to have relevant information.
“It’s not going to be easy to subpoena someone like Prince Andrew, he’s obviously not walking down the street where a process server can just hand him a piece of paper. It’s a lot more complicated.
“If he refused to come we may have a diplomatic situation between the UK and the US. I hope it doesn’t come to that.
“I take him at his word that he says he is going to cooperate, and I hope that’s what’s going to happen.”
The demand came after Andrew – the Queen’s second son – announced he would step down from public duties for the “foreseeable future”, an unprecedented move for a royal in modern times.
Pressure had been mounting on the duke in the wake of his weekend Newsnight interview about his relationship with Epstein.
The royal said in a statement on Wednesday evening that he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required”.
But Ms Bloom demanded further action by the duke. She tweeted: “Prince Andrew was simply not credible in his interview.
“He and his staff must cooperate with all investigations, show up for civil depositions and trials, and produce all documents. We are just getting started.”
Ms Bloom’s mother, fellow lawyer Gloria Allred, who also represents victims of the US financier, said the duke's position on assisting the authorities was not clear.
She told the BBC: “Is he insisting that he be served with a subpoena to testify, or is he willing to speak to law enforcement without being legally required to do so?
“My clients who are victims of Jeffrey Epstein have spoken to law enforcement without being ‘required’ to do so.”
Firms including telecoms giant BT and bank Barclays were among a growing number of multimillion-pound businesses, universities and charities which distanced themselves from Andrew amid the fall-out from the Newsnight interview.
It is understood there have been ongoing discussions within the royal family about the situation, with Andrew talking to the Queen and the Prince of Wales.
The duke went to see the Queen in person on Wednesday, visiting her at Buckingham Palace before his decision to step down was announced.
When asked why Boris Johnson had said the monarchy was "beyond reproach" during a debate with Jeremy Corbyn on Tuesday evening, chancellor Sajid Javid said: "I don't think it's appropriate when someone is being accused of things just to sort of jump in and just start giving your views, particularly if you hold a very responsible position like the prime minister.
"It is for the monarchy to speak for itself and what we have heard from Prince Andrew in the statement is that he has obviously reflected on the situation in the last few days and I think he has done the right thing.”
Andrew was heavily criticised for showing a lack of empathy towards Epstein’s victims and a lack of remorse over his friendship with the disgraced financier, who took his own life while in prison earlier this year.
In the Newsnight interview, the duke denied claims he slept with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims, on three separate occasions, twice while she was under age.
He said the alleged encounter in 2001 did not happen as he spent the day with his daughter, Princess Beatrice, at Pizza Express in Woking.
The Independent contacted Buckingham Palace, but they declined to comment.
Additional reporting by agencies
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