PRINCE Andrew has been warned not to fly to the US in case he’s arrested and can’t return to the UK as Epstein’s victims’ lawyer says the royal WILL be quizzed.
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, a well-respected civil rights lawyer from Scotland, said she would advise the Duke of York to meet agents in London instead.
Prince Andrew has been warned not to fly to the US in case he’s arrested and can’t return to the UK
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC said she would advise the Duke of York to meet agents in London instead
Andrew has been hit by scandal over his friendship with billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein
Andrew is reportedly preparing to talk to the FBI about his paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein as the palace fears a US court summons is “imminent”.
The Duke of York signalled he would speak to FBI detectives investigating billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein as he readied himself for a subpoena from US lawyers demanding he gives evidence under oath.
DUKE ‘WILLING TO CO-OPERATE’
Baroness Kennedy said: “I wouldn’t be wanting to send him there because I would be very concerned that suddenly he might be arrested and not able to leave the US. I would be very anxious about that.”
The Duke is believed to be preparing to give formal evidence to a US criminal probe, after saying in a statement he would help “any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations”.
And Buckingham Palace is understood to be ready for US authorities to issue the Duke with a subpoena, which would require he gives testimony over his friendship with Epstein under oath.
Sources suggested summons is imminent,The Telegraphreports.
The royal is set to fly on an official junket to Bahrain in the next 24 hours in an act of defiance.
The Duke of York will jet to the Gulf to try to save his beloved Pitch@Palace charity, after a string of sponsorships and charities pulled the plug on working with the Duke.
CONNECTIONS TO EPSTEIN
It comes as a US lawyer representing some of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged victims has raised the possibility of questioning the Duke of York under oath over his relationship with the disgraced financier.
Discussing how Andrew could become involved in any legal process, Lisa Bloom said that, as an attorney, she had “the right” to seek a statement from individuals she deemed to have “relevant information”.
She told BBC Breakfast: “It’s not going to be easy to subpoena someone like Prince Andrew, he’s obviously not walking down the street where a process server can just hand him a piece of paper, it’s a lot more complicated.
“If he refused to come, we may have a diplomatic situation between (the UK) and (the US). I hope it doesn’t come to that.
“I take him at his word that he says he is going to co-operate, and I hope that’s what’s going to happen.”
Her comments come in response to the duke saying in a statement that he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required”.
Andrew, the Queen’s second son, also announced he would step down from public duties for the “foreseeable future”.
‘PRESSURE MOUNTING’
Pressure had been mounting on the duke in the wake of his interview about his relationship with Epstein.
Ms Bloom had previously argued Andrew “must co-operate” with US authorities investigating Epstein.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Thursday she said his latest statement was “a good first step but it’s long overdue”.
Asked if an FBI investigation into Epstein could reach to the UK, Ms Bloom said: “It certainly could and it should.”
Ms Bloom’s mother and fellow lawyer Gloria Allred, who also represents victims of the US financier, said Andrew’s statement was not clear.
Ms Allred asked on the BBC’s Newsnight programme: “Is he insisting that he be served with a subpoena to testify, or is he willing to speak to law enforcement without being legally required to do so?
“My clients who are victims of Jeffrey Epstein have spoken to law enforcement without being ‘required’ to do so.”
She flagged two possible next steps.
“One is the criminal justice investigation, to see if charges should be filed in reference to anyone who might have knowingly conspired with Mr Epstein to recruit and to sex traffic underage girls to him.”
The Duke of York has denied allegations that he had sex with Virginia Roberts when she was 17
The Prince was seen arriving at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night
