Why Prince Andrew Continues To Escape Scrutiny Over Alleged Epstein Ties

Convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein had ties to politicians, celebrities and other high-profile individuals, including within the royal family.

Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, has faced scrutiny over his personal connection with the multimillionaire financier as well as accusations he had sex with an underage girl Epstein trafficked, according to The New York Times.

In a November 2019 interview with the BBC, the prince, 61, attempted to address details about his friendship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a Manhattan prison cell months earlier while facing multiple sex trafficking charges.

Town & Country reported that when journalist Emily Maitlis asked the Duke of York why he stayed at Epstein’s New York City home in 2010, he replied it was “convenient.”

At the time, Epstein had just been released from a Florida prison, where he served a 13-month sentence after pleading guilty to child prostitution charges.

“Do I regret the fact that he has quite obviously conducted himself in a manner unbecoming? Yes,” Prince Andrew said, according to The New York Times.

“Unbecoming?” an incredulous Maitlis asked, noting, “He was a sex offender.”

Fallout from the controversial interview forced the royal to issue a statement saying he would “step back from public duties for the foreseeable future,” and that he regretted the “ill-judged association” with Epstein.

Epstein’s “suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathize with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure,” Prince Andrew added.

Shortly after the prince released the statement, his alleged victim, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, said in a televised interview that she was 17 and working for Epstein in 2001 when they traveled to London, England. Once there, Giuffre claimed, she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew.

Prince Andrew has always vigorously denied all allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

“It was disgusting, she told the BBC in the December 2019 interview, according to The New York Times. “I sat there in bed and felt horrified and ashamed. I had just been abused by a member of the royal family. These powerful people were my chains.”

Giuffre alleged she and Prince Andrew had sex two more times after that.

“This is not some sordid sex story; this a story of being trafficked,” she said in the BBC interview. “This is a story of your guys’ royalty.”