PRINCE Andrew is facing pressure to finally talk to the FBI – more than 800 days after saying he was “duty bound” to speak to them.
Calls are growing for the Duke of York to finally talk to law enforcement – just as he said he would during his car crash Newsnight interview – after he settled a lawsuit with sex abuse victim Virginia Giuffre.
It was said Andrew needs to stop “hiding behind his mother’s skirts” and “hiding in his palace” and finally face the music over what he may know about Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andrew pledged in his settlement statement to help support victims of sex trafficking and even suggested he would become an ambassador to “fight against the evils” of the vile crime.
It has now been 824 days as of publication since Andrew told Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis he would testify or give a statement under oath over Epstein’s crimes.
And yet he has still not spoken to law enforcement in the US after he was reportedly named as a “person of interest” last August in the ongoing investigation into Epstein and Maxwell.
The Duke has now settled civil litigation over claims he raped Virginia, then 17, at his pal Maxwell’s house – reportedly offering up £12million plus legal fees.
And now calls are growing for him to finally speak to FBI agents as he could potentially help them in with the believed to be ongoing probe into the wider crimes of Maxwell and Epstein.
Mark Williams-Thomas, an ex-cop turned investigative journalist who helped expose Jimmy Savile, told The Celeb Report Online that Andrew could hold an “awful lot of information” about Epstein and Maxwell.
He said: “[Andrew] has openly said he would cooperate – but he hasn’t. The FBI would jump on a plane and come and interview him, they have operatives in the UK – but he hasn’t made himself available.”
The former detective added: “And then he turns around and says he is going to help victims of sex trafficking. What a ridiculous thing to say.
“If you were prepared to do that, then tell the FBI exactly what you know about Epstein and Maxwell.
“He has hidden in his palace and he has hidden behind his status.”
FBI officials and New York prosecutors played a game of cat and mouse with the Duke in 2020 with a tit-for-tat row over his lack of assistance over the case.
Andrew has always denied abusing Virginia – and previously claimed he had no knowledge of wrongdoing over his friendship with Epstein.
Dr Ann Olivarius, a senior partner at law firm McAllister Olivarius, told The Celeb Report Online said she hopes now will be the time for Andrew step up and work with the FBI.
“These are serious crimes – the fact he has not cooperated is an insult to the values of the monarchy, to The Queen, to Britain, to the British People, to the United States, and to the victims of trafficking,” she said.
Dr Olivarius added: “If he doesn’t do it, what do they do? One would hope The Queen, William and Charles would tell him ‘go talk to them’.
“It’s not just a mother and a son, this is the head of state, he should be told to cooperate.”
Andrew reportedly agreed to never again deny that he raped Virginia as part of the court settlement which was suddenly announced on Tuesday.
He is said to have settled the case after pressure from The Queen.
In an extraordinary statement, he told of his “regret” over his ties to paedophile multimillionaire Epstein and hailed Virginia’s “bravery”.
And in exchange Ms Giuffre, who said Andrew raped her when she was 17 after being trafficked to him by Epstein and Maxwell agreed to drop the case.
Nigel Cawthorne, a Royal author who has penned books on Andrew, Epstein and Maxwell, told The Celeb Report Online that the Duke must now submit himself to speak to the FBI.
“Andrew has been difficult all the way along and has been hiding behind his mother’s skirts,” he said.
“He’s done everything he can to hide away from this.
“And I can’t imagine he is going to change tact now – no matter what he said in that statement.”
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliam told The Celeb Report Online the “first thing” Andrew should do is talk to the FBI and help them trace Epstein’s accomplices – saying: “This isn’t over”.
“Its something he said he would do, hasn’t done and should do. It’s absolutely clear he should be cooperate. It’s a question of responsibility.” he said.
Mr Fitzwilliam went on: “The whole thing has been appalling. Its left a dreadful impression on the country.
“Its a matter of someone who feels very entitled and who doesn’t seem to grasp the way the court of public opinion seem to react and respond.”
