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| Jeffrey Epstein accusers outraged by Prince Andrew's 'lack of co-operation' | Jeffrey Epstein accusers outraged by Prince Andrew's 'lack of co-operation' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A lawyer representing women who say they were abused by Jeffrey Epstein has urged Prince Andrew to co-operate with an investigation into the financier. | A lawyer representing women who say they were abused by Jeffrey Epstein has urged Prince Andrew to co-operate with an investigation into the financier. |
| Lisa Bloom said the alleged victims were "outraged" by the Duke of York not assisting the US authorities. | Lisa Bloom said the alleged victims were "outraged" by the Duke of York not assisting the US authorities. |
| It comes after the prosecutor in charge of the US investigation said the duke had provided "zero co-operation". | It comes after the prosecutor in charge of the US investigation said the duke had provided "zero co-operation". |
| The prince has said he did not witness or suspect any suspicious behaviour during visits to Epstein's homes. | The prince has said he did not witness or suspect any suspicious behaviour during visits to Epstein's homes. |
| He told the BBC last November that he was willing to help the authorities into the investigation of Epstein, a convicted sex offender who took his own life in a jail cell in August, aged 66, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. | He told the BBC last November that he was willing to help the authorities into the investigation of Epstein, a convicted sex offender who took his own life in a jail cell in August, aged 66, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. |
| However, US attorney Geoffrey Berman said prosecutors and the FBI have received no reply after contacting the duke's lawyers. | However, US attorney Geoffrey Berman said prosecutors and the FBI have received no reply after contacting the duke's lawyers. |
| Ms Bloom, a US lawyer who represents five of Epstein's accusers, said the duke should "do the right thing". | Ms Bloom, a US lawyer who represents five of Epstein's accusers, said the duke should "do the right thing". |
| She told BBC Newsnight: "I'm glad that Geoffrey Berman has gone public to try to embarrass Prince Andrew, who made one statement and then behind closed doors is doing something very different. | She told BBC Newsnight: "I'm glad that Geoffrey Berman has gone public to try to embarrass Prince Andrew, who made one statement and then behind closed doors is doing something very different. |
| "The five Epstein victims who I represent are outraged and disappointed at Prince Andrew's behaviour here." | "The five Epstein victims who I represent are outraged and disappointed at Prince Andrew's behaviour here." |
| Buckingham Palace said the prince's legal team was dealing with the issue and it would not be commenting further. | Buckingham Palace said the prince's legal team was dealing with the issue and it would not be commenting further. |
| Ms Bloom added: "If Prince Andrew truly has done nothing wrong then it's incumbent upon him to go and speak to the FBI at a time that's convenient for him and say what he knows. | Ms Bloom added: "If Prince Andrew truly has done nothing wrong then it's incumbent upon him to go and speak to the FBI at a time that's convenient for him and say what he knows. |
| "Perhaps he can help bring other people to justice." | "Perhaps he can help bring other people to justice." |
| Another US lawyer representing some of Epstein's accusers, Gloria Allred, said she had sent a letter to Prince Andrew's home urging him to co-operate but hadn't received a response. | |
| She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "No response is the same as zero co-operation. This is ridiculous. It's just not acceptable." | |
| She added: "Prince Andrew has a moral obligation to volunteer to speak to law enforcement - that's what he said he would do." | |
| The duke has come under fire for his friendship with the US financier, who was jailed in Florida in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution. | |
| He told BBC Newsnight in November that he first met Epstein in 1999 and did not regret their friendship - which led to Epstein attending events at Windsor Castle and Sandringham - because it had "some seriously beneficial outcomes". | He told BBC Newsnight in November that he first met Epstein in 1999 and did not regret their friendship - which led to Epstein attending events at Windsor Castle and Sandringham - because it had "some seriously beneficial outcomes". |
| However he admitted it was wrong of him to visit Epstein at his home in 2010, after his conviction. | However he admitted it was wrong of him to visit Epstein at his home in 2010, after his conviction. |
| Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's accusers, says she was trafficked to London by Epstein in 2001, when she was 17, and forced to have sex with Prince Andrew. | Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's accusers, says she was trafficked to London by Epstein in 2001, when she was 17, and forced to have sex with Prince Andrew. |
| Prince Andrew emphatically denies any form of sexual contact or relationship with her and says any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation. | Prince Andrew emphatically denies any form of sexual contact or relationship with her and says any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation. |
| He said he has no recollection of ever meeting the woman, who was previously known as Virginia Roberts. | He said he has no recollection of ever meeting the woman, who was previously known as Virginia Roberts. |
| Prince Andrew was accused of lacking empathy for Epstein's victims in his Newsnight interview and failing to show regret over their friendship. | Prince Andrew was accused of lacking empathy for Epstein's victims in his Newsnight interview and failing to show regret over their friendship. |
| Shortly after it was broadcast, the prince announced he was stepping back from royal duties for the "foreseeable future" because the Epstein scandal had become a "major disruption" to the Royal Family. | Shortly after it was broadcast, the prince announced he was stepping back from royal duties for the "foreseeable future" because the Epstein scandal had become a "major disruption" to the Royal Family. |
| At the time, he said he was "willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency". | At the time, he said he was "willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency". |
| He also said in the BBC interview he would consider giving evidence under oath "if push came to shove and the legal advice was to do so". | He also said in the BBC interview he would consider giving evidence under oath "if push came to shove and the legal advice was to do so". |
| Prince Andrew accompanied the Queen to church near Sandringham earlier this month. | Prince Andrew accompanied the Queen to church near Sandringham earlier this month. |
| It was the first time the prince had been seen with his mother since the week after his Newsnight interview. | |