In a significant development that reignites the transatlantic legal firestorm surrounding the British royal family, former US Attorney General William Barr has confirmed that Prince Andrew remains a person of interest in the sprawling Jeffrey Epstein investigation.
The Duke of York could yet be subpoenaed and compelled to provide testimony to American prosecutors, Barr revealed, shedding new light on the Department of Justice's persistent efforts to unravel the full extent of Epstein's network.
The Long Shadow of Epstein
Barr's comments, made during an extensive interview, confirm what many legal observers had long suspected: the US investigation into Epstein's sex trafficking ring remains very much active, with prosecutors continuing to pursue all potential witnesses and accomplices.
This includes the pursuit of high-profile figures like Prince Andrew, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing but whose association with the convicted sex offender has been extensively documented.
A Royal Legal Quagmire
The revelation places fresh scrutiny on the Duke's controversial friendship with Epstein and his subsequent attempts to distance himself from the scandal. His much-criticised BBC Newsnight interview in 2019, intended to quell the controversy, is widely regarded as having exacerbated the situation, leading to his withdrawal from public duties.
While Prince Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, earlier this year, this new confirmation from one of America's most senior former law enforcement officials underscores that the civil settlement does not necessarily insulate him from the ongoing criminal investigation.
The Pursuit of Justice
Barr, who led the US Department of Justice during the final stages of the Epstein case, stated that prosecutors were "very aggressive" in seeking evidence from anyone connected to the financier's crimes. His assertion that the DOJ would have "loved to have more evidence from people like Prince Andrew" signals a clear and ongoing interest in the royal's account of events.
This development ensures that the Epstein scandal, and Prince Andrew's role within it, will continue to cast a long and uncomfortable shadow over the House of Windsor, posing a persistent challenge to the institution's reputation and its efforts to modernise.
