Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on US Law Enforcement Radar 15 Years Before UK Arrest
Recently disclosed documents have revealed that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former prince, was on the radar of US law enforcement for nearly 15 years before his arrest by British police on Thursday. This development comes amidst years of public uproar over his association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
FBI Inquiry in 2011 Links Mountbatten-Windsor to Epstein
Investigative documents recently disclosed by the US Department of Justice show that Mountbatten-Windsor's name emerged during a 2011 FBI inquiry into Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied all allegations of misconduct related to Epstein.
In March 2011, FBI agents traveled to Australia after an Epstein victim contacted federal prosecutors in south Florida, claiming she had "information pertinent" to Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. The victim's name is redacted in the documents, but details align closely with the public and legal claims made by Virginia Giuffre, a well-known Epstein accuser who died by suicide last year.
Allegations from FBI Interview
During the FBI interview, the woman stated she was a locker-room attendant at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. She told investigators that Maxwell approached her after seeing her read a book on massage or anatomy, seeking a traveling masseuse.
The woman alleged she traveled with Maxwell and Epstein to London, where they visited a nightclub with Mountbatten-Windsor. She claimed that she and the then-royal engaged in sexual activity at Maxwell's home and also alleged similar activity at Epstein's Manhattan residence, according to the FBI document.
Mountbatten-Windsor's Denials and Legal Context
Andrew has repeatedly denied engaging in sexual activity with Giuffre. In his November 2019 Newsnight interview, he insisted he was elsewhere during the alleged incident, stating he was with his children, including taking Beatrice to a Pizza Express in Woking for a party in the afternoon.
The document detailing these allegations is no longer easily accessible online, but the Guardian downloaded the file, and its URL is preserved in the Internet Archive. Another similar document, with accused men's names redacted, remains available in public records request filings.
Increased Scrutiny After Epstein's Arrest
Following Epstein's arrest, Mountbatten-Windsor appeared more prominently in law enforcement inquiries. An internal Department of Justice memo dated 19 December 2019 revealed prosecutors were interested in speaking to him, noting plans to request an interview once contact information for his lawyer was obtained.
Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges in Manhattan. Maxwell was found guilty in 2021 of sex trafficking for her role in Epstein's abuse of teenage girls.
Criticism from US Prosecutors
Geoffrey Berman, the former Manhattan US attorney overseeing Epstein's prosecution, repeatedly criticized Mountbatten-Windsor for alleged unwillingness to cooperate with the investigation. On 27 January 2020, Berman stated that Mountbatten-Windsor had provided "zero" cooperation despite public promises to help.
In a statement on 9 March 2020, Berman accused Mountbatten-Windsor of falsely portraying himself as eager to cooperate, noting that he had not given an interview to federal authorities and had declined requests for nearly four months. Berman emphasized that the investigation's doors remained open if Mountbatten-Windsor was serious about cooperating.
Contact information for Mountbatten-Windsor's press representative was not immediately available for comment.
