The Metropolitan police has declined requests to initiate an inquiry into Prince Andrew following the publication of court records connected to the deceased convicted child abuser Jeffrey Epstein.
New information about Prince Andrew has been revealed in the unsealing of 1,200 pages by a US court. These allegations include groping a woman’s breast during an encounter with a puppet version of the prince and accusations of sexual assault against Virginia Giuffre when she was 17.
The Duke of York has continuously refuted any accusations of misconduct.
Scotland Yard declined to launch an investigation into the documents and indicated that they did not reveal any new information.
The papers, released in two groups by Judge Loretta Preska, name various individuals linked to Epstein, including Andrew, referenced in legal proceedings from a case brought by Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell in 2015.
According to the Met, they are aware that court documents regarding Jeffrey Epstein have been released. If any new and significant information is brought to their attention, they will evaluate it. At this time, no investigation has been initiated.
Republic, a campaign organization, notified the police about Prince Andrew on Thursday following the documents’ release. They expressed disappointment with the Met’s choice.
The CEO, Graham Smith, expressed shock and disgust, stating that there are valid reasons for an inquiry. Both Epstein and Maxwell have been convicted, and the evidence suggests Prince Andrew’s involvement. If this were any other person, an investigation would surely be conducted.
According to a recently released witness statement, Johanna Sjoberg alleged that in 2001, when she was 20 years old, Prince Andrew touched her inappropriately at Epstein’s residence in New York. She also stated that Maxwell and Giuffre were present at the time.
In another filing a woman named as Jane Doe #3, who is believed to be Giuffre, alleges she was “forced to have sexual relations with this prince when she was a minor in three separate geographical locations: in London (at Ghislaine Maxwell’s apartment), in New York and on Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands (in an orgy with numerous other underaged girls)”.
Smith stated that there are new revelations and allegations found in these documents, such as the reported underage orgy on Epstein’s island. They believe that sexual crimes committed abroad can be legally pursued in the UK.
There has consistently been cause for a thorough inquiry, yet the authorities have not pursued it. It is imperative to question the lack of investigation, especially considering the gravity of the allegations and the previous conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell for similar crimes.
after newsletter promotion
The duke retired from public duties following the controversy surrounding his association with Epstein. He also reached a settlement for an undisclosed amount in the sexual assault case brought against him by Giuffre.
He was expelled from the functioning monarchy and no longer employs his HRH title following allegations from Giuffre, who was victim of trafficking by Epstein, accusing him of sexual assault when she was 17 years old.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the documents as Andrew is no longer a working royal. In a previous statement about links to Epstein, the palace said Andrew “deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent”.
Up to this point, approximately 59 out of 250 documents have been made available in relation to the case.
Source: theguardian.com
