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Prince Andrew: lawyers for Jeffrey Epstein's victims hint at subpoena Prince Andrew: lawyers for Epstein's victims hint at subpoena
(32 minutes later)
Royal pressed to turn over all relevant documents about contacts with financierRoyal pressed to turn over all relevant documents about contacts with financier
Lawyers representing the victims of the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have signalled they are willing to serve a subpoena to Prince Andrew to ensure he cooperates with their investigations.Lawyers representing the victims of the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have signalled they are willing to serve a subpoena to Prince Andrew to ensure he cooperates with their investigations.
In a statement on Wednesday announcing he was standing down from public duties, the Duke of York said he was willing to help “any appropriate law enforcement agency” with their investigations after what he accepted was his “ill-judged association” with Epstein.In a statement on Wednesday announcing he was standing down from public duties, the Duke of York said he was willing to help “any appropriate law enforcement agency” with their investigations after what he accepted was his “ill-judged association” with Epstein.
Lisa Bloom, a lawyer representing five of Epstein’s victims, demanded further action by the duke. Lisa Bloom, a lawyer representing five of Epstein’s victims, demanded further action by the prince.
In a tweet she called on him and his staff to appear for civil depositions and produce all relevant documents about the duke’s contact with Epstein. In a tweet she called on him and his staff to appear for civil depositions and produce all relevant documents about his contact with Epstein.
Later, when asked by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether she would approach the duke to serve him with a subpoena to provide a legal statement about his time with Epstein, Bloom replied: “We may as part of our investigation.” Later, when asked by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether she would approach Prince Andrew to serve him with a subpoena to provide a legal statement about his time with Epstein, Bloom replied: “We may as part of our investigation.”
She added: “It may be difficult to serve a deposition subpoena on him. But we believe that nobody is above the law, and that everybody should have to answer questions, if they have relevant information, and he clearly does have relevant information.She added: “It may be difficult to serve a deposition subpoena on him. But we believe that nobody is above the law, and that everybody should have to answer questions, if they have relevant information, and he clearly does have relevant information.
“I serve deposition subpoenas frequently and people sometimes fight it but eventually they usually have to appear and answer questions.”“I serve deposition subpoenas frequently and people sometimes fight it but eventually they usually have to appear and answer questions.”
Prince Andrew claims he met Epstein through Ghislaine Maxwell – the daughter of the media baron Robert Maxwell – who has been accused of serving as Epstein’s procurer.Prince Andrew claims he met Epstein through Ghislaine Maxwell – the daughter of the media baron Robert Maxwell – who has been accused of serving as Epstein’s procurer.
Asked whether a statement from the duke would be useful for Epstein’s victims, Bloom said: “Absolutely. We know that Prince Andrew had many contacts with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and we think anybody who has had a lot of interaction with them should be speaking not only to law enforcement but to lawyers to the victims, people like me who are doing investigations.” Asked whether a statement from the prince would be useful for Epstein’s victims, Bloom said: “Absolutely. We know that Prince Andrew had many contacts with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and we think anybody who has had a lot of interaction with them should be speaking not only to law enforcement but to lawyers to the victims, people like me who are doing investigations.”
She added: “I also think that all of the staff who work for Prince Andrew, should come and give information and evidence and that documents should be turned over: emails, texts, calendars, phone logs, travel logs, so that we can get to the bottom of this.”She added: “I also think that all of the staff who work for Prince Andrew, should come and give information and evidence and that documents should be turned over: emails, texts, calendars, phone logs, travel logs, so that we can get to the bottom of this.”
She said some of her clients were determined to get answers about Epstein’s crimes. She said: “This is very important to women trying to put their lives back together.”She said some of her clients were determined to get answers about Epstein’s crimes. She said: “This is very important to women trying to put their lives back together.”
Bloom’s mother and fellow lawyer Gloria Allred, who also represents some of Epstein’s victims, said the duke’s statement on Wednesday was not clear about how willing he was to cooperate with investigations against his former friend. Bloom’s mother and fellow lawyer Gloria Allred, who also represents some of Epstein’s victims, said the prince’s statement on Wednesday was not clear about how willing he was to cooperate with investigations against his former friend.
Speaking to the BBC’s Newsnight programme she said: “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?Speaking to the BBC’s Newsnight programme she said: “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.”“My clients who are victims of Jeffrey Epstein have spoken to law enforcement without being ‘required’ to do so.”
She flagged two possible next steps. “One is the criminal justice investigation to see if charges should be filed in reference to anyone who might have knowingly conspired with Mr Epstein to recruit and to sex traffic underage girls to him.”She flagged two possible next steps. “One is the criminal justice investigation to see if charges should be filed in reference to anyone who might have knowingly conspired with Mr Epstein to recruit and to sex traffic underage girls to him.”
The other option was the pursuit of civil lawsuits, like that which she filed on behalf of a woman known as Jane Doe 15, who alleged assault by Epstein when she was aged 15.The other option was the pursuit of civil lawsuits, like that which she filed on behalf of a woman known as Jane Doe 15, who alleged assault by Epstein when she was aged 15.
Firms including BT and Barclays are among a growing number of businesses, universities and charities which have distanced themselves from the royal since his disastrous Newsnight interview on Saturday.Firms including BT and Barclays are among a growing number of businesses, universities and charities which have distanced themselves from the royal since his disastrous Newsnight interview on Saturday.
The duke was 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. The prince was 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.
It is understood there have been discussions within the royal family about the situation, with the duke talking to the Queen and the Prince of Wales. It is understood there have been discussions within the royal family about the situation, with Prince Andrew talking to the Queen and the Prince of Wales.
The duke met with the Queen on Wednesday, visiting her at Buckingham Palace before his decision to step down was announced. Andrew met with the Queen on Wednesday, visiting her at Buckingham Palace before his decision to step down was announced.
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 underage. In the Newsnight interview, the prince denied claims he slept with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims, on three separate occasions – twice while she was underage.
He said the alleged encounter in 2001 did not happen as he spent the day with his daughter, Princess Beatrice, taking her to Pizza Express in Woking for a party.He said the alleged encounter in 2001 did not happen as he spent the day with his daughter, Princess Beatrice, taking her to Pizza Express in Woking for a party.
Giuffre said the same alleged sexual liaison began with the duke sweating heavily as they danced at Tramp, the London nightclub.Giuffre said the same alleged sexual liaison began with the duke sweating heavily as they danced at Tramp, the London nightclub.
But the duke said he had a medical condition at the time which meant he did not sweat. He said he had no recollection of meeting Giuffre. But the prince said he had a medical condition at the time which meant he did not sweat. He said he had no recollection of meeting Giuffre.
When asked if he regretted the “whole friendship with Epstein”, the duke replied: “Now, still not and the reason being is that the people that I met and the opportunities that I was given to learn either by him or because of him were actually very useful.” When asked if he regretted the “whole friendship with Epstein”, the prince replied: “Now, still not and the reason being is that the people that I met and the opportunities that I was given to learn either by him or because of him were actually very useful.”