A bombshell cache of US government documents has directly linked Prince Andrew to two separate FBI child sex trafficking investigations, raising serious new questions for the disgraced royal. The release forms part of a transparency drive and includes a formal request for the Duke of York to be interviewed by American authorities.
Formal FBI Interview Request and Dual Investigations
Among the hundreds of thousands of pages released is a 2020 letter from the US Department of Justice. This 'Request for Assistance' asked UK authorities to arrange an FBI interview with Andrew, referred to as 'Material Witness PA'. Crucially, the letter reveals he was wanted for questioning in connection with not one, but two paedophile inquiries.
The first concerns his well-documented relationship with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The second, and previously less publicised link, involves an investigation into the disgraced fashion tycoon Peter Nygard. The DoJ letter states there is 'evidence that Prince Andrew engaged in sexual conduct involving one of Epstein's victims' and demands details of any relationships with women introduced by Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Regarding Nygard, the document notes Andrew was known to have visited 'Nygard Cay' in the Bahamas, a location where Nygard is 'believed to have trafficked minor and adult female victims'. The letter urged the UK to conduct a compelled interview under oath if Andrew refused to co-operate voluntarily, warning he could be prosecuted for giving false statements.
Breakdown in Co-operation and 'Inappropriate Friends' Emails
Further documents reveal why Andrew ultimately refused to speak to the FBI. An email exchange between US prosecutors and Andrew's lawyer, Gary Bloxome, shows the royal's legal team demanded immunity from prosecution if Andrew gave misleading evidence. Assistant US attorney Geoff Berman refused, pointing out Andrew had publicly offered to co-operate after his disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview.
In response, Bloxome criticised prosecutors for claiming Andrew had offered 'zero co-operation' and stated they could no longer advise him to assist. Internal emails between US officials subsequently accused Andrew of spreading 'factual inaccuracies'.
Perhaps the most personally damning revelations are a series of emails from 2001, sent from an account called 'The Invisible Man' – which Andrew is known to have used. Signed off 'A xxx', one message to Ghislaine Maxwell asks: 'How's LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?' Another, sent two days later, complains of being 'distraught' over the death of his valet, a detail corroborated by a 2002 Daily Mail report.
A separate email from Maxwell to a Peruvian businessman, forwarded to the same 'Invisible Man' account, requests 'two legged sight seeing' for 'Andrew' during a trip to Peru in March 2002.
Political Fallout and Questioned Evidence
The document release has sparked political controversy in the US. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have criticised the extensive redaction of files by the Department of Justice, calling it a 'White House cover-up'. They argue the papers raise serious questions about the relationship between Epstein and former President Donald Trump.
Among the released items was a 2019 postcard, purportedly from Epstein to convicted serial child abuser Larry Nassar, which claimed 'our president' loves 'young, nubile girls'. The DoJ has stated the FBI deemed this a fake, citing mismatched handwriting and an incorrect postmark location.
The latest cache also includes an email from November last year, in which the Metropolitan Police contacted the FBI to ask if any investigations concerning Andrew's association with Epstein were ongoing. It appears this inquiry went unanswered.
These revelations come as it emerged Andrew has been forced to give up his gun licence following a request from police. Prince Andrew has consistently and vehemently denied any wrongdoing throughout the various allegations and investigations linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
