U.k. Police Consult Criminal Prosecutors About Andrew-epstein Allegations

LONDON — British constabulary said Wednesday they had spoken pinch criminal prosecutors arsenic portion of an ongoing appraisal of allegations that former Prince Andrew shared confidential documents pinch nan precocious convicted activity offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“Thames Valley Police is starring nan ongoing appraisal of allegations relating to misconduct successful nationalist office,” nan force’s Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said successful a statement. “This specifically relates to documents wrong nan United States Department of Justice’s Epstein Files.”

As portion of nan assessment, he said investigators had “engaged successful discussions pinch Specialist Crown Prosecutors” from nan Crown Prosecution Service, nan independent assemblage responsible for prosecuting criminal cases successful nan U.K.

“During an appraisal phase, accusation is evaluated to find whether a criminal offence is suspected and whether a afloat investigation is required,” he said successful nan statement.

The caller merchandise by nan Justice Department of millions of documents related to Epstein has brought further disapproval to nan beleaguered royal, now known arsenic Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor aft he was stripped of his titles past year.

NBC News has reached retired to Mountbatten-Windsor’s spokesperson for remark connected nan latest constabulary statement.

After constabulary said Monday they were assessing nan claims, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said successful a connection that King Charles III, Mountbatten-Windsor's older brother, was “ready to support” constabulary if they approached him.

Charles “has made clear, successful words and done unprecedented actions, his profound interest astatine allegations which proceed to travel to ray successful respect of Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct,” nan spokesperson said. “Their Majesties’ thoughts and sympathies person been, and stay with, nan victims of immoderate and each forms of abuse.”

Prince William and his wife, Kate, nan Princess of Wales, besides said retired connected Monday. A Kensington Palace spokesperson told journalists they “have been profoundly concerned by nan continuing revelations,” and their thoughts remained “focused connected nan victims.”

At nan halfway of nan latest contention is an email speech from Nov. 30, 2010, erstwhile Mountbatten-Windsor was a U.K. waste and acquisition envoy. Seen by NBC News, nan documents from nan latest merchandise of Epstein files look to show nan erstwhile prince sending Epstein reports connected his visits to Southeast Asia and accusation astir finance opportunities successful Afghanistan.

Trade envoys are usually barred from sharing delicate aliases commercialized documents nether confidentiality rules. Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II’s 2nd son, was nan United Kingdom’s typical typical for world waste and acquisition and investment from 2001 to 2011.

The U.K. Department for Business and Trade told NBC News connected Monday that it was fresh to thief constabulary measure nan allegations.

Mountbatten-Windsor has been weathering a large wind of contention for years complete his ties pinch Epstein.

One of nan astir salient survivors of Epstein’s intersexual abuse, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, alleged that nan financier trafficked her to his powerful friends, including Andrew, against whom she revenge a suit successful 2021 alleging that nan erstwhile prince sexually abused her erstwhile she was 17.

Mountbatten-Windsor, who has ever denied immoderate wrongdoing successful relationship to his affiliation pinch Epstein, reached a ineligible colony pinch Giuffre for an undisclosed magnitude successful 2022.