Prince Andrew ‘offered to assist US investigators at least three times with Jeffrey Epstein probe'

Prince Andrew has hit out at the US Department of Justice (DOJ) over its investigation into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke of York launched an extraordinary public fight back after American officials formally requested to question him as part of their criminal investigation into the late disgraced financier.

Issuing what he called a “clarification statement” due to “misleading briefings”, Andrew contradicted claims that he had provided “zero co-operation” to the US authorities investigating.

Instead, the Duke’s legal team went on the record saying that the royal had made three offers of help since he was first approached in January 2020.

In a statement, his lawyers at Blackfords LLP said: “The Duke of York has on at least three occasions this year offered his assistance as a witness to the DOJ.

“Unfortunately, the DOJ has reacted to the first two offers by breaching their own confidentiality rules and claiming that the duke has offered zero co-operation.

"In doing so, they are perhaps seeking publicity rather than accepting the assistance proffered.”

They added: “As the public record indicates the DOJ has been actively investigating Mr Epstein and other targets for more than 16 years, yet the first time they requested the Duke’s help was on 2nd January 2020.

"Importantly, the DOJ advised us that the duke is not and has never been a ‘target’ of their criminal investigations into Epstein and that they sought his confidential, voluntary cooperation.

“In the course of these discussions, we asked the DOJ to confirm that our co-operation and any interview arrangements would remain confidential, in accordance with the ordinary rules that apply to voluntary co-operation with the DOJ.

"We were given an unequivocal assurance that our discussions and the interview process would remain confidential."

Andrew’s team say that on January 27, Geoffrey Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, chose to make a public statement about the Duke.

This led to worldwide media reports that there had been “a wall of silence” and that there had been “zero co-operation” by the Duke but they said this was inaccurate.

Mr Berman made further public statements on March 9 saying that the Duke had “completely shut the door” on cooperating with the US investigation and that they are now “considering” further options.

The duke's lawyers continued: “Far from our client acting above the law, as has been implied by press briefings in the US, he is being treated by a lower standard than might reasonably be expected for any other citizen.

“Further, those same breaches of confidentiality by the DOJ have given the global media - and, therefore, the worldwide audience - an entirely misleading account of our discussions with them.

“Any pursuit of an application for mutual legal assistance would be disappointing, since the Duke of York is not a target of the DOJ investigation and has recently repeated his willingness to provide a witness statement.

“It is hoped that this third offer has not been the cause of the most recent leak about the Duke of York.

"We do not intend to make any further public statement at this time as we wish to respect the rules of confidentiality under both English law and the US guidelines."

Andrew has always categorically denied any wrongdoing over his relationship with billionaire paedophile Epstein.

But the request from American officials means he could be forced to appear in a UK court as a witness in the case within months.

If the request is approved by the Home Office, the FBI could ask Andrew, 60, to be compelled to go to a British court to give evidence under oath as a witness if he refused to cooperate.

It would be up to the judge in the UK to decide if the hearing was in open court.

If American prosecutors wanted to extradite the Duke, they would have to obtain an arrest warrant or a grand jury indictment to make a request to the UK.

Such a move has been made more complex after America's State Department refused an extradition request for ex CIA spy Anne Sacoolas, who fled the UK using diplomatic immunity after being accused of killing teen motorcyclist Harry Dunn.

It comes just weeks after a Netflix documentary on Epstein was released featuring Virginia Giuffre, also known as Virginia Roberts, who has alleged she had sex with the Duke of York in 2001 after being trafficked to the UK by the American.

Ms Giuffre alleges the duke had sex with her on three separate occasions, including when she was 17, still a minor under US law.

She also said in an interview with BBC Panorama that she was left “horrified and ashamed” after an alleged sexual encounter with Andrew in London in 2001.

The duke categorically denies he had any form of sexual contact or relationship with her.

Andrew stepped away from royal duties following his disastrous Newsnight interview in November about his relationship with Epstein, who killed himself in his jail cell while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

Four days after last year’s Newsnight interview, the duke said in a statement he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required”.

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