Lawyer Calls for UK Prosecutors to Investigate Prince Andrew Over Sex Trafficking Allegations
A prominent Beverly Hills lawyer representing one of Jeffrey Epstein's victims has formally urged British prosecutors to examine whether Prince Andrew could be charged with sex trafficking under UK law. Perry Wander, who has spent two decades advocating for sexual abuse survivors, asserts that the Duke of York's actions may constitute criminal offenses under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Client's Allegations and Legal Framework
Mr Wander's client, who received a settlement from the Epstein estate last year, alleges that Prince Andrew introduced her to the convicted paedophile at Windsor Castle. Following this introduction, she claims Andrew actively encouraged her to spend time with Epstein and travel aboard his private aircraft, infamously known as the 'Lolita Express'.
The woman subsequently visited Epstein's Palm Beach mansion and his private Caribbean island, where she reports being sexually assaulted on multiple occasions. She maintains that when she confided in Andrew about Epstein's inappropriate behaviour, the prince responded that he 'wasn't surprised' because similar allegations had been made by others.
Section 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 criminalises arranging or facilitating another person's travel with the intention of exploitation. The statute explicitly states that 'travel' encompasses recruiting, transporting, transferring, harbouring or receiving individuals, regardless of whether consent was given.
Legal Analysis and Potential Charges
Mr Wander contends that Andrew's alleged encouragement and facilitation of his client's travel, combined with apparent knowledge or reasonable foresight of potential sexual exploitation, could satisfy the statutory elements required for human trafficking charges. 'In my professional legal opinion,' Wander stated, 'if a prosecutor in the United Kingdom were to apply the governing statutory framework, a reasonable basis would exist to conclude that criminal liability for sex trafficking could be established.'
This represents the first instance where a woman has publicly alleged that Prince Andrew directly introduced a victim to Jeffrey Epstein. While the woman did not explicitly inform Andrew about being raped by Epstein, she did disclose that the financier had mistreated her inappropriately.
Broader Context and Reactions
The call for investigation comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Andrew's associations with Epstein and mounting pressure from victims' advocates. Lawyer Gloria Allred criticised what she perceives as prioritisation of financial crimes over sexual offenses, stating: 'Allegations concerning state trade secrets and allegations of financial crimes are given priority and quick action while allegations of rape, child sexual abuse and sex trafficking take many years to investigate.'
Congressional investigator Suhas Subramanyan has offered to travel to the UK to depose Andrew under oath, noting that the prince has repeatedly declined invitations to testify before US committees. 'He has an opportunity to clear his name,' Subramanyan remarked, 'but his team has been hiding from us because they have been hoping that this will go away.'
Epstein victim Teresa Helm, who became friends with Virginia Giuffre, expressed hope for 'a very intense investigation' while questioning Andrew's acceptance of accountability. Prince Andrew has consistently and vehemently denied all allegations of wrongdoing, including Virginia Giuffre's claims that she was sex trafficked to him by Epstein.
