Johanna Sjoberg could provide the FBI with key evidence over Prince Andrew’s links to Jeffrey Epstein as agents step up their probe into the US paedophile.
The 39-year-old is prepared to talk to them about her allegations the royal groped her in the late billionaire’s New York home when she was 21.
Johanna pictured today for the first time in more than 10 years since she blew the lid on the scandal, is one of only two women claiming to have had sexual contact with Andrew, 59.
A source said: “As a victim of Epstein, Sjoberg’s testimony over how she was recruited and abused is vital to the FBI.
Despite Epstein’s suicide, they are determined all those who enabled his crimes will face justice. It is a promise they made to the victims.
“Andrew has had serious allegations made against him and agents are determined that a person’s standing in life does not make them immune from being questioned.”
Johanna had claimed Andrew groped her breast while he sat her on his knee at Epstein’s home.
Her allegations in 2007 are understood to have given Virginia Giuffre, born Roberts, the courage to make her claims that Andrew had sex with her when she was 17.
The FBI is thought to be looking at ways to interview the prince in the UK.
Agents want to question him about what he knew about Epstein, his alleged recruiter Ghislaine Maxwell and anyone else connected with the billionaire.
Andrew’s lawyers are preparing for an approach by the FBI after he said he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations if required”.
Andrew has been stripped of his £249,000 Sovereign Grant “salary” and all duties after his disastrous BBC interview about the allegations made by Virginia, 35.
He will also step down temporarily from his 230 figurehead roles.
A royal source said the prince believes speaking to the FBI will clear him of wrongdoing.
Friends of Johanna say she is “pleased” Andrew is finally addressing the allegations against him.
A source said: “She has testified that Andrew engaged in a ‘sexual act’ upon her in Epstein’s home and believes it is right the FBI questions him about what he knows.
“We are appalled the Duke has for so long been allowed to continue as though nothing ever happened, but he knows what he did to Jo.
"Why has it taken so long to get the day of reckoning he deserves?”
When the Mirror approached Johanna to ask about Andrew she refused to comment further on whether she had already spoken to the FBI or talk about his behaviour, saying her lawyer is handling her case.
She had made her claims about being groped by the Prince in US court papers.
It was part of a part of a defamation case brought by Virginia against Maxwell, 57. Epstein had flown Johanna and Virginia from Palm Beach, Florida, to Manhattan to help entertain Andrew.
Inside the house, they presented the prince with a Spitting Image puppet of himself. Maxwell allegedly put the dummy’s hand on Virginia’s breast.
Johanna claims that was when Andrew groped her.
She told a Sunday newspaper: “I sat on his lap, and he put his hand on my breast.”
Andrew remained friends with Epstein after the paedophile’s conviction in 2008 for child sex offences. They were pictured together in New York’s Central Park in 2010.
The duke claimed that the visit was to break off his friendship.
A BBC One Panorama interview with Virginia will air on December 2.
The prince strenuously denies any wrongdoing. Epstein, 66 – who left his £444million fortune to his brother Mark – killed himself in prison in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
