Prince Andrew could face FBI investigation as ‘new emails to Epstein’ emerge
Prince Andrew is under fire after Donald Trump’s new FBI chief vowed to ‘do everything‘ to expose Jeffrey Epstein’s associates.
New FBI head, Kash Patel, told a Senate hearing he is ready to investigate those linked to Epstein, who died in jail in 2019.
He said: ‘Child sex trafficking has no place in the US. I will do everything to make sure the American public knows the full weight of what happened.’
A source said: ‘The FBI should reopen its investigation. Andrew has to face justice.’
They told The Sun: ‘He was friends with Epstein for years and has never answered for it. Kash Patel should release all the FBI’s files immediately.’
The news comes after emails emerged purporting to show Andrew told Epstein they would ‘play some more soon!’ two months after he claimed he cut contact with him.
The emails were disclosed in a filing by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who are defending an appeal by former Barclays boss, Jes Staley.
Staley is challenging a decision for misleading regulators on his ties to Epstein, one of the most severe measures the FCA can impose.
Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement and paid millions to Virginia Giuffre in 2022 to avoid going to trial.
This was over allegations he sexually abused Ms Giuffre three times when she was just 17, and while she was the victim of a trafficking ring orchestrated by Epstein and his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andrew has always denied the allegations.
King Charles reportedly cut off Andrew’s ‘£1million allowance’ in the fallout after the Duke settled out of court with Ms Giuffre.
In Andrew’s infamous BBC Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, he said he ceased all contact with Epstein in December 2010 after they were pictured walking in New York together.
Andrew twice stated his friendship with Epstein had some ‘seriously beneficial outcomes’ and it gave him the opportunity to meet people and help prepare for a future role as a trade envoy.
While he denied sleeping with Mrs Giuffre on three separate occasions, he claimed one encounter in 2001 could not have happened as he had taken his daughter Princess Beatrice to Pizza Express in Woking for a party.
More recently, Andrew has faced further scrutiny over links to an alleged Chinese spy.
The alleged spy was apparently invited to Andrew’s birthday party in 2020 – but he’s now been banned from the UK by MI5 on ‘security grounds’.
Andrew, a former UK trade envoy, has worked closely with influential business figures in the past, but it came to light that this 50-year-old Chinese businessman was also a member of the Chinese Communist Party.
He was reportedly working for its United Front Work Department, which gathers intelligence.
Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.
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