A senior U.S. politician has alleged that the woman seen on the floor beneath Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Jeffrey Epstein’s New York mansion was a victim of sex trafficking.
These claims come after three photographs of the former prince crouching over an unidentified woman at Epstein’s residence were included in the Epstein files released on January 30.
The undated pictures have no captions but were released in a document of 100 pages of photographs, and also appear to show Andrew touching the woman’s abdomen. Another unidentified person’s feet can be seen up on a table in the background.
While the full context of the images remains unclear, California Congressman Ted Lieu presented them during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, D.C.
In the session, Lieu questioned U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on why Andrew has not faced prosecution, while asserting that the woman in the photos was a victim of sex trafficking.
During the intense hearing, Lieu stated, “Please display the photos again. We are witnessing a victim of sex trafficking under the federal Victims Trafficking Protection Act.”
He further criticized, “Jeffrey Epstein is guilty, and anyone involved in his sex operation, including former Prince Andrew, is also culpable. It’s appalling that efforts were made to shield Epstein’s clients.”
‘These two photos staring you in the face are evidence of a crime, and more than enough evidence to predicate an investigation against former Prince Andrew.
‘So I asked you, Attorney General Counsel, why did you shut down this investigation last July? And why have you not prosecuted former Prince Andrew?’
Andrew features a number of times in the Epstein files, including images apparently showing him crouching over an unidentified woman in what appears to be Epstein’s New York mansion
Another image showing Andrew next to the woman released by the US Department of Justice
A third image of Andrew over the woman which was released by the US Department of Justice
Two photos of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are displayed as US Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington DC yesterday
Congressman Ted Lieu questions Attorney General Pam Bondi during yesterday’s hearing
While Ms Bondi confirmed the woman’s face had been redacted under laws protecting trafficking victims, she denied that the photographs proved criminality.
It is not known whether Mr Lieu has had special insight on the Epstein investigations, but some US politicians are understood to have viewed unredacted files.
The Department of Justice, which published more than three million documents relating to Epstein in the latest release, has never brought charges against Andrew.
Many women connected to Epstein have previously been described by the US as sex trafficking victims under law – but this characterisation had never been given to the woman in the Andrew photos until yesterday’s hearing.
There is no suggestion of criminal activity from the pictures themselves, and Andrew has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
It comes as Thames Valley Police said yesterday that it held discussions with specialists from the Crown Prosecution Service about allegations that Andrew shared confidential reports from his role as the UK’s trade envoy with sex offender Epstein.
Earlier yesterday, Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson told journalists they were ‘in close contact’ with both the Metropolitan and Thames Valley police, but have not been asked for formal advice yet.
Emails released by the Department of Justice appear to show the former duke sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore.
Files released by US authorities also include claims a woman was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew in 2010.
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein raise their hands after Representative Pramila Jayapal asked who of them has been unable to meet with the US Department of Justice during yesterday’s hearing
Congressman Ted Lieu questions Attorney General Pam Bondi during yesterday’s hearing
Attorney General Pam Bondi arrives to testify before the House Judiciary Committee hearing
California congressman Ted Lieu walks down the stairs of the US Capitol yesterday
Separately, the Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into Peter Mandelson over alleged misconduct in public office.
The inquiry is linked to allegations that Mandelson sent market-sensitive information to the paedophile financier Epstein while he was business secretary during the financial crisis.
On Monday, Buckingham Palace said it would ‘stand ready to support’ the police if approached over the claims. A spokesman added that the King had made clear his ‘profound concern’ at allegations over his brother’s conduct.
The Prince and Princess of Wales publicly addressed the Epstein scandal for the first time on Monday, with Kensington Palace saying they were ‘deeply concerned’ at the ‘continued revelations’ and that their thoughts ‘remain focused on the victims’.
Andrew is effectively no longer a royal, becoming a commoner after he was stripped by the monarch of his right to be a prince and his dukedom late last year over his association with Epstein.
He remains in the line of succession, being eighth in line to the throne, having gradually moved down after being born second in line.
Much of the work of the Royal Family in recent weeks has been overshadowed by the Epstein scandal, despite the King’s attempts to draw a line under the matter when he banished Andrew and removed his titles.
The fresh trove of documents released by the Department of Justice has sparked a string of allegations against Andrew.
They include claims that a second woman was sent to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew, and also that the former prince and Epstein asked an exotic dancer for a threesome in the latter’s Florida home.
Andrew waves goodbye to a woman leaving Epstein’s home in New York in December 2010
Andrew and Charles at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral at Westminster Cathedral last September
Jeffrey Epstein’s home in New York, where Andrew stayed during his visit in December 2010
Andrew has never been questioned by police over claims by Virginia Giuffre.
Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, alleged that she was forced to have sex three times with Andrew, including when she was 17, and also in London after she was trafficked by Epstein, and at an orgy on Epstein’s private Caribbean island.
The former duke vehemently denied the claims.
The Met previously said it was made aware in 2015 of allegations around non-recent trafficking for sexual exploitation including to central London in 2001.
But it concluded in 2016 that because the investigation would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK, the Met was not the appropriate authority to conduct the inquiries so the matter would not proceed to a full criminal investigation.
The decision was reviewed in August 2019, but in November that year the Met confirmed it would remain unchanged.
In December, the Met decided not to launch a criminal investigation into reports that Andrew asked his taxpayer-funded bodyguard to dig up dirt on Ms Giuffre.
Her family have said they are ‘deeply disappointed’ by the force’s decision to drop the investigation ‘without explanation’.
Meanwhile a poll found earlier this week that support for the monarchy has fallen to 45 per cent amid the ongoing Epstein scandal.
The survey, commissioned by the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, found that the proportion of the British public in favour of the monarchy had dropped three percentage points, down from 48 per cent, over the last four months.
