No investigation has been launched after Prince Andrew was amongst scores of individuals named as associates of Jeffrey Epstein in court docket papers unsealed by a US court docket, the Met Police have mentioned.
The newly unsealed court docket paperwork title dozens of Epstein’s associates, though a lot of them are usually not accused of any wrongdoing.
In one doc, a lady named Johanna Sjoberg claimed, whereas giving testimony in May 2016, that the Duke of York had touched her breast whereas sitting on a sofa contained in the US billionaire’s Manhattan condo in 2001.
Buckingham Palace has beforehand mentioned the allegations are “categorically untrue”.
After the paperwork have been unsealed, Republic, a stress group calling for the abolition of the monarchy, reported Prince Andrew to the police.
The group’s chief govt, Graham Smith, urged the Met to open an investigation – and referred to as on the King to make a public assertion on the matter.
Mr Smith mentioned: “To date, there appears to have been no serious criminal investigation, no interview of the accused or other witnesses, and no clear justification for taking no action.”
A press release by the Met mentioned: “We are aware of the release of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein.
“As with any matter, ought to new and related info be dropped at our consideration we’ll assess it.
“No investigation has been launched.”
Epstein, a disgraced financier, had been accused of abusing underage women as younger as 14. In 2019, he was discovered lifeless in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan whereas he awaited trial on intercourse trafficking prices.
Ghislaine Maxwell is presently serving a 20-year jail sentence after being convicted of serving to recruit and groom youngsters for Epstein to molest.
Prince Andrew has strenuously denied all allegations towards him up to now.
In 2022, he settled a civil case out of court docket with Virginia Giuffre after she claimed she was sexually assaulted by the prince when she was 17 years outdated.
That settlement, which was reported to be as a lot as £12m, carried no request for forgiveness.
Buckingham Palace, which now not speaks on behalf of the duke after he stepped down as a working royal in 2019 over his friendship with Epstein, has not commented on the paperwork.
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Source: information.sky.com”