U.K. Police Arrest Former Prince Andrew Over Alleged Misconduct Tied To Epstein
Police arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Thursday — his 66th birthday — on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest follows allegations that he shared confidential information with convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2010 and 2011 while serving as British trade envoy.
The former prince was “released under investigation” later the same day, which means that the probe will continue and charges could be brought at a later date. In a photo taken just after he was sent home (above), Andrew appears to be trying to avoid cameras outside the police station.
THE INVESTIGATION: Emails released in the most recent batch of U.S. Department of Justice files from Jan. 30 show the former prince and then-British trade envoy passing on reports of visits to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, along with confidential details of investment opportunities.
If convicted of misconduct in public office, which he is reportedly under investigated for, he could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The investigation appears to only be related to his financial ties with Epstein, and not to allegations of sexual abuse.
ROYAL RESPONSE: King Charles, Andrew’s older brother, responded Thursday, saying he learned of the arrest “with the deepest concern” and stressed that “the law must take its course.”
Charles formally stripped Andrew of all of his royal titles, including “Prince” and “His Royal Highness,” last year.
Andrew’s ties to Epstein have been known for years. One Epstein accuser, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, said she was trafficked to Andrew and other British officials when she was a teenager. Giuffre died by suicide in April, years after she and Andrew reached an undisclosed settlement in a lawsuit where she accused him of sexually abusing her when she was a minor. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and said he regrets the friendship.
The Guiffre family released a statement after the arrest, saying: “Today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty.”
Andrew is the first senior British royal to be arrested in nearly 400 years, but he is only the latest high-profile figure to face repercussions over connections to Epstein.
MORE EPSTEIN FALLOUT
The Epstein files have implicated other members of the British elite, including former U.K. ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson. Police are investigating whether he committed misconduct in public office by allegedly sharing sensitive government information with Epstein. Mandelson denies any wrongdoing.
The investigation — along with the former prince’s arrest — has sparked comparisons between how the U.K. and the U.S. are responding. In the U.S., most of the fallout so far has played out in the court of public opinion rather than through criminal charges.
Casey Wasserman, a Hollywood talent agent, announced he will sell his agency after backlash over flying on Epstein’s plane (2002) and exchanging flirtatious messages with Epstein’s convicted accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. The news followed singer Chappell Roan and soccer star Abby Wambach cutting ties with him. Wasserman remains head of the 2028 LA Olympic organizing committee, but the LA mayor is calling on him to resign.
Kathryn Ruemmler, former Obama White House counsel, resigned from her post as chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs after emails showed she referred to Epstein as an “older brother” and “Uncle Jeffrey” while advising him and receiving expensive gifts from him.
Brad Karp said he would step down from his position as the chairman of the major law firm Paul Weiss after documents revealed he sought Epstein’s help securing his son a job and praised him after a 2015 dinner.
New York Giants owner Steve Tisch is under NFL review for crude 2013 email exchanges with Epstein.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem resigned last week as head of Dubai’s largest port. Emails revealed years of communication with Epstein, including crude exchanges about women.