Prince Andrew 'may think he's above the law' says lawyer for Jeffrey Epstein's victims
A lawyer for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein has said Prince Andrew might think he’s above the law after it emerged he is not co-operating with FBI requests for an interview.
Gloria Allred, a lawyer for five of Epstein's accusers, said the prince should speak to the police in the US.
"If he has done nothing wrong, which appears to be what he has claimed, then why won't he talk to law enforcement?” she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"No response is the same as zero co-operation. This is ridiculous. It's just not acceptable.”
Speculating on why the Duke of York is refusing to speak to prosecutor, she added: “I don’t know whether Prince Andrew thinks he’s above the law, or whether he thinks he doesn’t know anything, so why get any more involved with this.”
Her comments came after other lawyers representing Epstein’s victims called on the Prince to “stop playing games”.
The Duke of York is under increasing pressure to assist US authorities with their investigation into the Epstein sex trafficking inquiry.
Lisa Bloom, who represents five of Epstein's alleged victims, said it was time for Prince Andrew to "do the right thing" and speak with investigators in the US.
She told BBC News: "It is time for anyone with information to come forward and answer questions.
"Prince Andrew himself is accused of sexual misconduct and he also spent a great deal of time with Jeffrey Epstein.
"So it's time to stop playing games and to come forward to do the right thing and answer questions."
Ms Bloom said Epstein’s alleged victims were “outraged” about the duke’s reported failure to assist US authorities.
US lawyer Geoffrey Berman revealed yesterday that Prince Andrew had provided "zero co-operation", despite his lawyers being contacted by prosecutors and the FBI as part of the investigation.
On Monday night, Sigrid McCawley, who represents Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein and had sex with Prince Andrew, said: "Prince Andrew’s continued refusal to co-operate with authorities after freely acknowledging that he would be prepared to answer inquiries raises even more questions about the role he played in the international sex trafficking ring Jeffrey Epstein and others operated.
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"Prince Andrew should take most seriously the deeply held belief in this country that no one is above the law."
Buckingham Palace decline to comment.
A royal source said: "This issue is being dealt with by the Duke of York's legal team. Buckingham Palace will not be commenting further on this particular matter.”
Prince Andrew stepped down from royal duties in November following a disastrous Newsnight interview in the wake of the Epstein scandal.
At the time, he said: "I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency."
Following the interview, he was accused of failing to show regret over his friendship with the disgraced financier, who took his own life in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.
Ms Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein, said in an interview with BBC Panorama that she was left "horrified and ashamed" after an alleged sexual encounter with Prince Andrew in London in 2001.
The duke categorically denies he had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Ms Giuffre.
