Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the Duke of York, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office following the release of emails linked to Jeffrey Epstein. He was released under investigation after police questioned him over allegations that he shared confidential material with the late sex offender. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein, and the arrest is not connected to any allegation of sexual misconduct.
US lawmakers and survivors of Epstein’s abuse have responded by calling for greater accountability in the United States. Skye Roberts, brother of the late Virginia Giuffre, who alleged she was trafficked to the UK to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor, said: “The reality is the UK is doing far more… while here in the United States, our president has yet to even do remotely the same.”
President Donald Trump described the arrest as “a shame” and “very sad”, adding: “I think it’s so bad for the royal family.” Meanwhile, Republican representative Thomas Massie, who co-sponsored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, urged US attorney general Pam Bondi and FBI director Kash Patel to “act”, stating: “Now we need JUSTICE in the United States.”
Democratic lawmakers echoed the sentiment, with Robert Garcia stating the arrest was “an enormous step forward” but that the US must “end this White House cover up”. Suhas Subramanyam noted that accountability is happening in Europe but “not enough in the United States”. Nancy Mace, a Republican, said the arrest signals that “no one is above the law”.
The King has said that “the law must take its course” after the arrest of his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
