Prince Andrew: Lawyers lash out at US justice department in new Jeffrey Epstein statement

They respond to claims Duke of York has offered ‘zero cooperation’

Prince Andrew’s lawyers have lashed out at the US justice department over how it has treated their client in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

The Duke of York has offered to assist as a witness “on at least three occasions this year”, Blackfords LLP said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, the DOJ [US Department of Justice] has reacted to the first two offers by breaching their own confidentiality rules and claiming that the duke has offered zero cooperation,” his lawyers said.

“In doing so, they are perhaps seeking publicity rather than accepting the assistance proffered.”

The firm said it had decided to make its first public statement on conversations with the US justice department following “misleading media briefings”.

A US lawyer responded by saying the prince was trying to "falsely portray himself to the public as eager and willing to cooperate".

Geoffrey Berman – who is leading the probe into sex trafficking allegations against Epstein and others – claimed a request to arrange an interview has repeatedly been turned down.

The DOJ has submitted a mutual legal assistance (MLA) request to the Home Office to quiz the prince as a witness in a criminal investigation into Epstein, a convicted paedophile who died in prison while awaiting a trial for sex-trafficking charges.

This process – which is usually secret – is used to obtain help in an investigation or prosecution of criminal offences, generally when cooperation cannot be obtained by law enforcement agencies.

Prince Andrew’s lawyers said: “Any pursuit of an application for mutual legal assistance would be disappointing, since the Duke of York is not a target of the DOJ investigation and has recently repeated his willingness to provide a witness statement.

“It is hoped that this third offer has not been the cause of the most recent leak about the Duke of York.”

Their comments come after reports emerged that American prosecutors had officially asked for the duke to be made available for questioning as a witness into the Epstein probe.

Last year, shortly after a Newsnight interview about his relationship with the sex offender, the duke said he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required”.

However, Mr Berman told reporters in March the prince had “completely shut the door on voluntary cooperation”, adding: “Our office is considering its options.”

In late January, the US lawyer said the FBI and federal prosecutors were seeking the prince’s help – and there had been “zero cooperation” at that time.

In their statement, Prince Andrew’s lawyers claimed the US DOJ asked for the duke’s help in early January.

“The DOJ advised us that the duke is not and has never been a ‘target’ of their criminal investigations into Epstein and that they sought his confidential, voluntary cooperation,” they claimed.

“It is a matter of regret that the DOJ has seen fit to breach its own rules of confidentiality, not least as they are designed to encourage witness cooperation.

“Far from our client acting above the law, as has been implied by press briefings in the US, he is being treated by a lower standard than might reasonably be expected for any other citizen.”

Prince Andrew stepped away from his royal duties last year after his widely criticised Newsnight interview, during which he was quizzed about his friendship with Epstein and accusations he slept with one of the disgraced financier’s alleged trafficking victims.

Virginia Giuffre has alleged the duke had sex with her on three separate occasions, including when she was 17 while she was still a minor under US law.

The duke has categorically denied he had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Ms Giuffre.

Mr Berman said: "The prince has not given an interview to federal authorities, has repeatedly declined our request to schedule such an interview, and nearly four months ago informed us unequivocally ... he would not come in for such an interview."

The lawyer added: "If Prince Andrew is, in fact, serious about cooperating with the ongoing federal investigation, our doors remain open, and we await word of when we should expect him."

Additional reporting by the Press Association