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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Steph Brawn

Prince Andrew reported to police after Epstein court documents released

PRINCE Andrew has been reported to the police by a campaign group in response to court documents released overnight. 

The Earl of Inverness is among those named in court documents relating to Ghislaine Maxwell, her relationship with late disgraced millionaire Jeffrey Epstein and alleged victims of sexual abuse.

The documents include accusations that Andrew sexually assaulted a minor – referred to as Jane Doe #3 – while in London. 

The filing – which is believed to be about Virginia Giuffre – alleges Epstein instructed her to “give the prince whatever he demanded and required Jane Doe #3 to report back to him on the details of the sexual abuse”.

The accusations add that Maxwell "facilitated Prince Andrew's acts of sexual abuse.".

Campaign group Republic is demanding answers from the palace, police and politicians, saying the whole affair suggests the royals are "beyond the law".

CEO Graham Smith said: "I have reported Andrew to the police, well aware that the Met claims to have looked into this before.

"To date, there appears to have been no serious criminal investigation, no interview of the accused or other witnesses and no clear justification for taking no action.

"I am calling on the Met Police to re-open this case, I am calling on MPs to debate this affair in parliament and I am calling on Charles to make a public statement – in front of the press and taking questions – to respond to these allegations and what they say about the monarchy.

"How can we not expect a response from the Government and head of state? At the time of the alleged offences, Andrew was a government trade ambassador and an active member of the royal family. They fudged and obfuscated for 11 years before taking any definitive action.

"The Government, police and palace all have questions to answer. Now is the time to start answering them."

Scottish anti-monarchy group Our Republic said on Twitter/X: "This man still clings to the title of Earl of Inverness, staining the city by association."

Epstein – who killed himself in prison as he awaited trial for sex trafficking charges in 2019 – was accused of luring underage girls to his homes under the guise of giving him massages, and then sexually abusing them.

His case has spawned countless conspiracy theories about the possible involvement of rich and powerful people in sex trafficking.

The documents being unsealed are part of a 2015 US defamation case by Giuffre against Maxwell, the British socialite who supplied Epstein with underage girls.

They include 40 pieces of evidence from Johanna Sjoberg who claimed Prince Andrew touched her breast while sitting on a sofa in Epstein's apartment in 2001. 

Buckingham Palace previously said the allegations are "categorically untrue".

Republic's police report says: "Given the seriousness of the incidents, the conviction of Ghislaine Maxwell, Andrew's payment of an estimated £12m to Giuffre and the related accusations from other victims, it seems there must be grounds for a full criminal investigation into these events and those involved.

"Surely there is a wider issue of the impact on victims of allowing powerful men to act with impunity, and specifically there is surely evidence that there was a prolonged series of offences committed in London involving Maxwell and Epstein and numerous victims. 

"Inaction would exacerbate an already serious issue of victims of male violence being unwilling to report offences to the Metropolitan Police, and would embolden offenders knowing the police will not take action against powerful individuals."

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