Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor “should be prepared” to testify earlier than the US Congress about his hyperlinks to convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, Sir Keir Starmer says.
It comes after the previous prince featured within the newest disclosure of information associated to the disgraced paedophile financier.
Andrew ought to share data in “whatever form” he’s requested, the prime minister added.
Pictures which seem to indicate Andrew crouched over an unidentified lady have been featured within the newest doc dump from the US Department of Justice on Friday.
The photos have been amongst greater than three million paperwork associated to Epstein that have been launched.
As he arrived in Japan for the ultimate leg of his go to to East Asia, Sir Keir was requested if Andrew ought to apologise and testify to the congressional Epstein investigation.
Andrew has been accused of hiding from the US House Oversight Committee, which in November requested him to sit down for a transcribed interview concerning his connections to Epstein.
The prime minister replied: “Firstly I always approach this question with the victims of Epstein’s in mind. Epstein’s victims have to be the first priority. Whether there should be an apology, that’s a matter for Andrew.
“But, yes, in terms of testifying, I’ve always said anybody who’s got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they’re asked to do that because you can’t be victim-centred if you’re not prepared to do that.”
The newest photos, launched in a doc of 100 pages of images, additionally seem to indicate the previous duke touching the lady’s stomach.
Another unidentified particular person’s toes are up on a desk within the background.
They don’t have any captions and it isn’t identified the place they have been taken.
Elsewhere within the doc dump, screenshots and scans seem to indicate the previous prince exchanged emails with Epstein a few “beautiful” Russian lady and invited him to Buckingham Palace.
Epstein had recommended that he might organize for Andrew to have dinner with a 26 12 months previous “clever, beautiful and trustworthy” Russian lady, named solely as “Irina”.
The emails additionally seem to disclose that the previous prince had invited Epstein to Buckingham Palace years after the paedophile had been convicted.
He advised Epstein in a later electronic mail: “Delighted for you to come here to BP. Come with whomever and I’ll be here free from 1600ish to 2000.” BP is thought to refer to Buckingham Palace.
Lord Mandelson, the former ambassador to the US, also features in the release of files.
The peer was sacked as the chief envoy to Washington DC after revelations of his continued contact with Epstein following his guilty plea in 2008 to soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor.
Lord Mandelson has offered an unequivocal apology to Epstein’s victims.
The paperwork confirmed exchanges between Epstein and Reinaldo Avila da Silva, the husband of Lord Mandelson, about paying a price for him to attend the British School of Osteopathy.
One electronic mail referred to a £10,000 switch from Epstein.
Sir Keir was requested if the cost, apparently made whereas Lord Mandelson was serving as enterprise secretary, fell beneath the requirements of a peer of the realm.
The prime minister replied: “In relation to Peter Mandelson, obviously he was removed as ambassador in relation to the further information that came to light in September of last year and I’ve nothing more to say in relation to Peter Mandelson.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/epstein-andrew-mountbatten-windsor-congress-b2911554.html