Newly released documents from the Epstein case suggest that the Duke of York asked Ghislaine Maxwell to arrange meetings with "inappropriate friends" while she sought "friendly, discreet and fun" girls on his behalf. The latest tranche of files, released by the US Department of Justice, includes email exchanges from 2001 and 2002 between Maxwell and a correspondent identified as "A", who appears to be Prince Andrew.
In one email dated 16 August 2001, "A" wrote: "Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?" Maxwell replied the next day: "So sorry to disappoint you. However, the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends." The correspondence also refers to "A" leaving the "RN" that year, an apparent reference to Andrew's departure from the Royal Navy, and to the death of his long-serving valet.
The files also show that the FBI sought to question Prince Andrew about his links to another millionaire sex offender, Peter Nygard. In addition, emails reveal that Britain's Metropolitan Police contacted the FBI last month to ask whether any ongoing investigations related to Andrew's association with Epstein were in progress.
Other disclosures include a claim by a senior US attorney that Donald Trump was on a flight in the 1990s with Epstein and a 20-year-old woman, though there is no indication she was a victim of any crime, and Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing. The documents also contained redactions that could be removed using basic software, and US lawyers noted "various factual inaccuracies" in a statement provided on Andrew's behalf during their investigation.
Prince Andrew has led a secluded life since being stripped of his royal titles and losing his residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor. Allegations over his relationship with Epstein surfaced in 2011, following the emergence of a photograph showing him with his arm around Virginia Giuffre, then 17, with Maxwell smiling nearby. Andrew has vigorously denied the accusations.
In February and March 2002, Maxwell forwarded correspondence concerning arrangements for a trip to Peru, including setting up meetings with "girls". In the exchange, a third party, Juan Estaban Ganoza, asked about the girls' ages, to which "A" replied that he would leave that entirely to Maxwell and Ganoza. Maxwell also asked for help arranging "two-legged sight-seeing" with "intelligent pretty fun" girls from "good families" to make Andrew "very happy". Photographs taken soon afterwards show Andrew on an official visit to Peru.
