UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the former royal should answer US lawmakers’ questions about his knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.
TOKYO: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said disgraced former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should testify before the US Congress about his knowledge of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.
Asked on the final day of a visit to China and Japan whether King Charles III’s brother should answer US lawmakers’ questions, Starmer replied “yes”.
“I’ve always said anybody that [has] got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they are asked to do that,” he told reporters.
“Because you can’t be victims-centered if you are not prepared to do that,” the British leader added, noting Epstein’s victims “have to be the first priority”.
His tougher stance ratchets up pressure on the ex-Duke of York, who was stripped of his royal titles and honours by the king late last year.
The comments follow the US Justice Department releasing more Epstein files, including newly embarrassing photos of Andrew and emails between him and the disgraced financier.
The several pictures show Andrew kneeling on all fours over an unidentified woman lying on the floor, with both individuals clothed and no context provided for the images.
Emails from 2010 show he and Epstein discussing the then-prince having dinner with a “beautiful, trustworthy” 26-year-old Russian woman, though it is unclear if any meeting took place.
Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing stemming from his friendship with Epstein, who took his own life in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges.
Virginia Giuffre, a US and Australian citizen who died last year, alleged she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with Andrew three times, including twice when she was 17.
Andrew settled a multi-million-pound lawsuit she had filed in 2022 without making any admission of guilt.
US lawmakers and investigators have for years repeatedly requested that Andrew face questions about his association with Epstein.
Sixteen Democratic members of Congress signed a letter last November asking Andrew to participate in a “transcribed interview” with the House of Representatives oversight committee.
Andrew has given no public indication in recent years that he would be willing to do so.
Starmer was also asked whether Andrew should apologise for his Epstein friendship, and replied that it was “a matter for Andrew”.
