Prince Andrew should be "dragged over the coals" over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, but others should not avoid scrutiny, a commentator has insisted. TV presenter Mark Dolan told the latest edition of the Daily Expresso podcast that while politicians in the US want King Charles's brother to answer questions in Congress about the late paedophile, there was a risk it could be a "kangaroo court".
Support for survivors
His comments came after US lawyer Spencer Kuvin reminded the Daily Express that both King Charles and Prime Minister Andy Burnham have expressed their support for the survivors of the "monster" Epstein. Kuvin told this publication: "It's now time for them to use their power and influence to put real pressure on Andrew by urging him as strongly as possible to cooperate with US authorities and tell the world what he saw and heard."
Members of the US Congress's House Oversight Committee are investigating the Epstein case. They have long called on Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to appear before them to answer questions about his ties to the late sex offender.
Concerns over intelligence
Broadcaster Mark Dolan told the Daily Expresso that it was hard to disagree with Mr Kuvin, given that the focus must be on the victims. Mr Dolan added: "[There are] a couple of problems with it. Andrew's not very intelligent."
He explained that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor's Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in November 2019 went badly. The royal's face-to-face with Maitlis is widely regarded to have been a disaster as he showed no regret for his relationship with Epstein and failed to show empathy for the sex offender's victims.
Mr Dolan said: "He's an arrogant man that was completely exposed. He is so deluded and, in my humble opinion, so immeasurably thick, that he actually thought it went well... The idea of him going to Washington DC and facing US politicians and lawmakers - it'll be Newsnight times a hundred."
Risk of unfair hearing
Mr Dolan said his second concern is he fears it could be a kangaroo court despite his wish to get to the truth and secure justice for Epstein's victims. He added: "That's fine. You're going to drag this guy over the coals, but what about all those other very powerful figures from business and the media who haven't had the scrutiny that Andrew has? And let's not forget that he hasn't been found guilty of any crimes. So the worry I've got is he'll be horribly out of his depth and say some very unwise things, and I'm not even sure whether he'll get a fair hearing."
Mr Dolan said the former Duke of York has become the "whipping boy" for the Epstein scandal, but he would like others involved to face the same scrutiny. He claimed: "I think the US establishment has quite enjoyed having Andrew as the fall guy. Can we have some other fall guys as well?"
Other figures in the spotlight
The TalkTV host suggested former US president Bill Clinton could be among those to face greater scrutiny. Mr Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, sat for separate, closed-door depositions with the Committee over their historical links to Epstein in February.
Epstein was found unresponsive in an apparent suicide in a New York jail cell in August 2019. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Mr Dolan said if Mr Mountbatten-Windsor were to appear before the Committee to clear his name a lot of people would respect him for it. But he and Daily Expresso host, JJ Anisiobi, both agreed that in their view Mr Mountbatten-Windsor would not appear. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly and strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
