The Mirror has uncovered that a former Conservative Home Secretary intervened to prevent US authorities from interrogating Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor regarding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Dame Priti Patel, who held the position in 2020, blocked a formal request from the US Department of Justice that sought to compel Mountbatten-Windsor to provide information about his ties to Epstein. The US authorities had presented evidence indicating that the then-Duke of York might have had knowledge of Epstein’s illegal activities.
If Mountbatten-Windsor refused a voluntary interview, the US authorities asked the UK to conduct a mandatory interview under oath, according to the “Request for Assistance” sent to the Home Office.
The Mirror has learned that the request, made under the mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT), was blocked by Ms Patel, who is now the shadow foreign secretary.
Responding to inquiries about the decision not to grant the request, a Conservative spokesperson stated, “In such matters, guidance from Government Legal Advisers plays a vital role in determining the response. Subsequent to the initial request, more information about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein has surfaced.
“It is now necessary for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to undergo scrutiny by the authorities. Our sympathies are with the victims of Epstein and his network.”
During the time of the request, the FBI was probing British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell over allegations of trafficking women for Epstein. The former US attorney leading the investigation had accused UK authorities of shielding the ex-prince from scrutiny.
Geoffrey Berman stated in 2022, “Despite our positive relations with the UK and Scotland Yard, our MLAT requests were usually successful. However, with Prince Andrew, we faced obstacles. It appears someone was safeguarding him.”
Under the mutual assistance treaty, countries can seek cooperation to obtain witness testimonies from abroad, even through court orders if necessary. A specialized unit of civil servants at the Home Office typically handles such requests.
Based on their recommendation, the Home Secretary makes the final decision. The disclosure of the UK’s refusal to assist in the investigation coincides with Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley’s recent visit to the US to access uncensored material from the Epstein files.
UK investigators believe that the material may contain pertinent information about Mountbatten-Windsor and Peter Mandelson’s connections to Epstein. Emails released earlier suggest that both individuals exchanged sensitive details with Epstein.
Following the release of the files, both the former prince and the ex-Cabinet minister were arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. However, they have denied any wrongdoing. Police are reviewing the content to determine if any exchanges violated the law.
