Donald Trump Breaks Silence on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Arrest
Former US President Donald Trump has broken his silence regarding the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Georgia, Trump expressed his dismay at the situation.
"I think it's a shame. I think it's very sad. I think it's so bad for the royal family. It’s very, very sad. To me, it’s a very sad thing," Trump stated. He added that King Charles is a fantastic person "who’s obviously coming to our country very soon."
US Politicians Demand Accountability
The arrest of the former Prince has prompted calls from US politicians for Trump to be "held accountable" over his own connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Democrat Representative Melanie Stansbury remarked, "If a Prince can be held accountable, so can a President."
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following years of allegations concerning his ties with Epstein. The financier died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019. The core accusation involves Mountbatten-Windsor allegedly sharing confidential trade information with Epstein.
Congressional Reactions and Oversight
Democrat Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, a member of the US House Oversight Committee, emphasized in a statement that Thursday's development demonstrates "there will be accountability even if you hide, regardless of how rich and powerful you are." He and fellow Democrat Robert Garcia had previously accused Andrew of evading questions by failing to respond to a letter about the Epstein scandal.
In a detailed statement, Subramanyam noted, "He (Andrew) appears repeatedly in the documents we have uncovered as having knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and is specifically named by victims as someone who engaged in wrongdoing. Yet he has continued to ignore our calls to cooperate with the Oversight Committee's investigation."
Les Wexner's Congressional Testimony
The arrest coincides with recent congressional testimony from Les Wexner, a retail billionaire and former associate of Epstein. Wexner, 88, defended himself before the House Oversight and Reform Committee, stating he had been "duped by a world-class conman." He asserted, "I was naive, foolish, and gullible to put any trust in Jeffrey Epstein. He was a con man. And while I was conned, I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide."
Wexner's relationship with Epstein ended in 2007 after discoveries of theft. His name appears over 1,000 times in Epstein-related documents, though his spokesperson attributes this to their long association, and he has faced no charges. During the hearing, Wexner described himself as a philanthropist and grandfather committed to ethical living.
Skepticism and Further Allegations
Representative Robert Garcia expressed skepticism, telling reporters, "There is no single person that was more involved in providing Jeffrey Epstein with the financial support to commit his crimes than Les Wexner." In response to claims by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, Wexner testified to unwavering fidelity to his wife, denying any misconduct.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied wrongdoing related to Epstein but has not directly addressed the latest allegations. The arrest, occurring on his 66th birthday, stems from millions of pages of released files on Epstein, highlighting ongoing investigations into the scandal's wider network.
