The Justice Department‘s release of millions of files related to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein offers some insight into what British police say they are investigating following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Thursday.
Thames Valley Police arrested Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, on Thursday as part of an investigation examining whether information contained in the DOJ’s Epstein disclosures shows alleged misconduct during Mountbatten-Windsor’s decade as a United Kingdom trade envoy from 2001 to 2011. The department previously confirmed last week that the investigation was looking into a claim that Mountbatten-Windsor offered confidential trade documents to Epstein during his tenure.
Emails in the Epstein files appeared to show Mountbatten-Windsor sharing government-related information with Epstein during the period now under scrutiny by authorities.
Documents cited in the disclosures suggest Mountbatten-Windsor forwarded reports and travel details connected to official visits to countries including Singapore, Vietnam, and China in November 2010.
Additional correspondence allegedly referenced investment opportunities and commercial briefings tied to Afghanistan, according to a December 2010 email exchange. Trade envoys are typically bound by confidentiality rules governing sensitive political and commercial information gathered through official duties.
It is unclear what other elements of the files might be currently under investigation, though Thames Valley Police previously told the BBC it was assessing whether there are grounds to investigate a complaint by the anti-monarchy group Republic, which has advocated “a private prosecution against Andrew over allegations of sexual assault, corruption and misconduct in public office.”
Republic is also responsible for urging the authorities to examine whether any misconduct occurred under Mountbatten-Windor’s time in his envoy role.
The arrest comes after years of scrutiny over Epstein’s ties to Mountbatten-Windsor, who has been seen in photographs with Epstein and young women that have emerged from legal proceedings over the years, including embarrassing photographs of Mountbatten-Windsor crouching over an unidentified woman that were released more recently as part of the Epstein files. In 2022, Mountbatten-Windsor settled a lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre in which she alleged that the then-prince sexually abused her when she was 17 as part of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring.
Mountbatten-Windsor, whose 66th birthday was on Thursday, has denied wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and has rejected claims that he used his public role to advance private interests. Giuffre, one of the most well-known victims of Epstein, died last year at 41.
Police indicated he remains in custody while investigators examine electronic devices, records, and other materials. Under U.K. law, authorities may detain a suspect for up to 24 hours without charge, though extensions can be granted for up to 96 hours with judicial approval. After questioning, suspects can generally be charged, released, or freed pending further investigation.
UK POLICE ARREST ANDREW MOUNTBATTEN-WINDSOR OVER MISCONDUCT TIED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN
If charged, the offense of misconduct in public office carries a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment, though it is rarely applied to senior officials and has drawn criticism from legal scholars for being overly broad. The U.K. government is currently considering legislation that would replace the charge with more clearly defined offenses targeting abuses of public authority.
Investigators have not announced whether charges will be filed, and the inquiry remains ongoing.