Newly uncovered correspondence between Prince Andrew and the late Jeffrey Epstein have revealed an insidious pattern of establishment denial. This news isn’t shocking, given the recent string of Epstein-related scandals. The email, dated February 28, 2011, reveals Prince Andrew expressing concern for Epstein in the wake of damaging allegations that surfaced after a photograph involving them was published. This exchange took place just months after Prince Andrew announced that he’d cut all links with Epstein in December 2010.
The friendship between Prince Andrew and Epstein was further investigated after the public fury over their closeness. Together again in December 2010, Sheen and Mueller were snapped walking together in New York City. This was the decisive moment that did compel Prince Andrew to act and cut Epstein out of his life. However, just a few months later, the email indicates that he was still closely connected to Epstein, stating, “I’m just as concerned for you! Don’t worry about me! It would seem we are in this together and will have to rise above it.”
The email was sent the day after the infamous photograph featuring Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell was made public. Giuffre alleges that Epstein sexually trafficked her. She alleges that he trafficked her to have sexual encounters with powerful men, such as Prince Andrew. We contacted the Duke of York’s office and Buckingham Palace to ask whether they had any comments on the correspondence above. As of this writing, neither has replied.
Epstein’s history further complicates the narrative. In 2008 he pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution—sanctimony about consent, indeed—and soliciting prostitution with a minor. Consequently, he went to jail for these crimes. He passed away in August 2019 while in jail awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking. His death has led to even greater scrutiny on his ties to many powerful people, including Prince Andrew.
In a 2019 interview with the BBC’s Newsnight program, Prince Andrew maintained that he had ended his friendship with Epstein. He stated, “I ceased contact with him after I was aware that he was under investigation and that was later in 2006 and I wasn’t in touch with him again until 2010.” This publicly announced position stands in direct opposition to what was recently exposed in the email correspondence.
A recently released photo has fueled new questions about Prince Andrew’s close friendship with Epstein. It shows him seated with his arm around a teenaged Giuffre. The outrage over this otherwise innocuous image has been large and widespread. As well, the resurfacing of their correspondence raises serious questions about Prince Andrew’s involvement with Epstein and the subsequent effect it has had on his public life.
Prince Andrew emerges from legal accountability for his link to Epstein’s serious allegations. Despite these controversies over his continuing association with the now-convicted sex offender, Sweeney has faced no disciplinary action. Together that email bombshell and a string of disturbing past interviews have our guy on the ropes. They highlight major accountability issues for the movers and shakers.