Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew (left) is seen driving from Windsor on January 28 after being criticised by a US prosecutor for giving 'zero co-operation' during Epstein inquiry
Prince Andrew was urged by lawyers today to 'get on a plane' and answer questions from the FBI as part of a reciprocal deal that would see US spy's wife Anne Sacoolas sent to the UK where she is accused of killing teen Harry Dunn.

The demand was made in an extraordinary press conference in New York where Lisa Bloom, lawyer for alleged victims of billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, teamed up with Dunn family lawyer Radd Seiger in an attempt to break the stalemate that has ensnared both of their cases in political red tape.

Mrs Sacoolas was charged with causing Mr Dunn's death by dangerous driving in December but US secretary of state Mike Pompeo rejected an extradition request for the 42-year-old last month.

Nineteen-year-old Mr Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside US military base RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year.

dunn
Sacoolas skipped the country and claimed diplomatic immunity after knocking down and killing 19-year-old Harry (pictured) while driving on the wrong side of the road outside a US base in Britain last year
The lawyers appeared alongside one of Epstein's accusers, a model named Kiki who appealed to the Queen to persuade Prince Andrew to help the US authorities with anything he witnessed in his time with Epstein.

Ms Bloom highlighted what she called 'eerie parallels' between the cases that involved 'everyday teenagers'.

'Harry Dunn was 19. Kiki was 19,' she said. 'In both cases an innocent teenager was victimized and the government appears to be protecting the wrongdoer.'
Harry Dunn
Lisa Bloom (right), the lawyer for five of Epstein's alleged sex slaves including Kiki (center), speaks at a press conference in New York as she teams up with the lawyer for dead British teenager Harry Dunn, Radd Seiger (left)
Lisa Bloom claims to have a new witness who remembers seeing Prince Andrew dancing with Virginia Roberts at Tramp nightclub in 2001.

Bloom said the woman came forward following Andrew's widely-panned interview with the BBC.

Speaking at a press conference in New York, she said: 'Her story is this - she was there in the nightclub and she stepped on the foot of somebody who was dancing next to her.

'She said 'I'm sorry', he said 'that's OK'.

'The friend she was there with said 'don't you realise you just stepped on the foot of the member of Royal Family - that's Prince Andrew'.

'(The witness) thought to herself 'oh my God I'm in the presence of a royal'.

'She had never been in the presence of a royal before, she never has been since.

'It was a very big moment to her.'

The witness claims to remember Andrew with a young woman who she did not recognise at the time, but now identifies as Virginia Roberts.

Roberts claims she was trafficked to the UK by Epstein before having sex with Andrew. The prince vociferously denies the claims.

She said: 'Today we stand with the family of Harry Dunn and they stand with us. Both Mrs Sacoolas and Prince Andrew must co-operate with law enforcement.

'I call on my government, the United States, to return Miss Sacoolas to the UK to face justice there.

'She will, of course, have the right to an attorney and to present any defenses she may have. She is presumed innocent.

'I call upon Crown in UK to require Andrew to come to the US to answer law enforcement's questions about Jeffrey Epstein and his behavior.

Can the FBI force Andrew to speak to them about Epstein - or even extradite him to the US?

With the Duke of York accused of offering 'zero cooperation' in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation, what happens next?

- Who wants to interview him?

US prosecutors and the FBI have contacted Andrew's lawyers requesting to interview him. Also lawyers for five alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein want the duke to provide testimony in their civil cases, claiming Andrew witnessed people being given massages at the disgraced financier's homes.

- What could happen next?

If Andrew decides not to give evidence voluntarily, the US authorities could make a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) request to the UK, a formal process that allows co-operation between states when evidence needs to be gathered in a prosecution or investigation of criminal offences.

- Would a Mutual Legal Assistance request be approved?

Not necessarily. The Home Office would have to decide whether or not to agree to the request - it is not automatic.

There are a large number of grounds it could be refused, such as if it is considered to impair sovereignty, security or other essential interests, or if it is contrary to important public policy.

Initial developments could happen behind the scenes because the UK's policy is not to confirm nor deny that an MLA request has been made.

- What would an MLA mean for Andrew?

If the FBI is treating the duke as a witness, it could ask for him to be compelled to go to a UK court to give evidence under oath.

If he was being treated as a potential suspect, or received legal advice he might incriminate himself, he would have privilege against self-incrimination.

So Andrew would have to appear at court, but could not be compelled to give evidence.

- Would this be in open court?

It would be up to the judge in the UK to decide whether this would take place in open court.

In practical terms, when it is known an individual has been advised not to incriminate themselves, the MLA request will not be made.

The duke's lawyers could challenge which evidence should be transmitted back to the US.

- Could Andrew be extradited to the US?

If US prosecutors wanted to extradite Andrew, they would have to either obtain an arrest warrant or a grand jury indictment together with an arrest warrant, and make a request to the UK.

The Home Office would have to decide whether it was a lawful request or whether an extradition should be refused, with the case going to a magistrates' court if it proceeds.

Andrew would then have to decide whether to be extradited voluntarily or whether to challenge it.

- Can the duke travel to the US?

The US is most likely considered out of the question for the duke now.

Once he is on US soil, he is subject to US law and if an arrest warrant was issued, he would be liable for arrest.

- What happens if the duke now agrees to be interviewed voluntarily instead?

If the duke is willing to comply with the FBI's request, it would arrange, through the duke's lawyers, a date, time and place to speak to him, or he could request to answer written questions.

This voluntary arrangement means US investigators can travel to the UK without having to follow any formal procedures.

But as a courtesy they will notify the National Crime Agency that they will be conducting part of their investigation on UK soil.

- Where would the meeting take place?

The duke could make his statement at a number of venues, from the US embassy in London to a lawyer's office and potentially even a royal residence like Buckingham Palace.

But he would be likely to pick somewhere he feels most comfortable.

- What would happen during the meeting when a statement is taken?

Andrew's lawyers would be likely to advise him to take some control of the process.

So he could request the questions in advance, and ask whether he is being considered as a witness or potential suspect.

The duke would also need to clarify what his rights are under US law in relation to the statement he would be giving.

- Would the process end there?

No, the FBI could request further interviews to ask follow-up questions, if the investigation develops and new leads come to light.

But at some point, Andrew's legal team will want what is known as a 'letter of comfort' from the US authorities, saying he is not a person of interest to the investigation and is a 'witness of fact' only.

- Why is the Metropolitan Police not investigating the allegations?

The Metropolitan Police said it reviewed its previous decision that it was 'not the appropriate authority to conduct enquiries in these circumstances' following Epstein's death in August, and that its position remained unchanged.

- Can the lawyers representing some of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged victims take part in the interview process?

No, as they are involved in a civil matter - claims for damages made against Epstein's estate. But they could ask the FBI to share the results of any interview with Andrew.

- Could the duke be made to provide testimony in the lawsuits against Epstein's estate?

Pre-trial subpoenas for witnesses have already been prepared in each of the five cases, according to BBC Panorama, and these could be served on Andrew were he to return to the US, at which point they would have to be signed off by a judge.

The duke could challenge the subpoena in court if he wanted to decline to give evidence.

'He too, should have the right to counsel, fairness and the presumption of innocence.'

Last week, UK foreign Secretary Dominic Raab ruled out the prospect of any swap deal taking place, saying there would be 'no haggle' between the two investigations. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the cases would be resolved 'on their merits'.

Today's press conference is a clear attempt by both parties to maintain pressure on both governments to reach a breakthrough in each case.

Speaking of the reasons for reaching out to Ms Bloom, Mr Seiger said: 'It's about evasion of justice.

'These are the two greatest allies in the world and they follow a rules-based system. No-one, no matter who you are ... is above the law.

'We all break the rules from time to time but we don't get to walk away and hide.'

Mr Seiger said it was 'terrible advice' for Mrs Sacoolas and the duke if they are being advised 'it's all going to go away' and they should just 'wait it out'.

He said after meeting Kiki, an alleged victim of Epstein also present at the press conference, 'what you see every day is a strengthening and stiffening of resolve'.

In a message to Prince Andrew, Mr Seiger said: 'If you have nothing to hide get on a plane and meet with Kiki, and help her and help other victims ... there's no other way.'

Asked by a reporter if the pair are proposing a 'swap', Mr Seiger said: 'It can never be a swap but at the heart of extradition treaties is reciprocity.

'If you want me as a nation to send people you want to prosecute, you have to agree to do the same thing.

'It can never be a straight swap but be careful what you wish for.

'If you want people from the UK like Prince Andrew, Julian Assange ... you have to think about making sure that treaty is followed to the letter.'

He said the US government's decision to refuse to extradite Mrs Sacoolas was 'legally indefensible' and 'effectively ripping up the treaty'.

Kiki, an alleged victim of Epstein who at the weekend wrote an open letter to Prince Andrew countersigned by three unnamed 'Jane Doe' Epstein victims, addressed the Duke of York at the press conference.

'There's no question that you had close ties to Jeffrey Epstein dating back to the 90s.' She said.

'My sexual assault occurred in 2004 when I was just 19. Of all people, you had the power to influence and to say something, yet you didn't. Years went by and you didn't.'

She added: 'I can't help but think I could have been spared and potentially hundreds of other children and young women could have also been spared.

'Now's your chance to speak to the FBI and do the right thing.'

The duke has denied witnessing any suspicious behaviour when with Epstein.

The billionaire killed himself while in jail awaiting trial last year.


Kiki said she and Epstein's other alleged victims wrote to the duke asking for his co-operation.

'So far he has not responded and as far as we know he has continued to stonewall,' she added.

US lawyer Geoffrey Berman, who is leading the Epstein sex trafficking inquiry, has said the duke has 'provided zero co-operation', claiming his lawyers had been contacted by prosecutors and the FBI as part of the investigation.

Andrew was reported to be 'angry and bewildered' at the claims, with sources telling the Daily Telegraph he was more than happy to talk to the FBI but had not been approached.

When the monarch's second son quit royal duties, he said he was willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency.

Kiki called on the Queen to encourage the duke to co-operate.

She said: 'I really feel empathetic for the Queen. I can't imagine what she's going through - but I think that they should pressure him to do the right thing because that seems to be what they stand for.'

Kiki broke down in tears on a US talk show last year as she described being assaulted as a teenager by Epstein at his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.

Mrs Sacoolas, the wife of an American intelligence official has been charged with causing teenager Mr Dunn's death after driving on the wrong side of the road outside a US military base in Northamptonshire last year. She fled the country on a private jet after being given diplomatic immunity.

Mr Sieger had recently backed Ms Bloom's calls for intervention and said: 'If Prince Andrew has committed crimes in the US then he should return to face their justice system. But only if the USA reverse their decision on Anne Sacoolas'.

He added: 'It is clear to us, following our meeting with the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab... that the UK Government is reviewing all of its options and will not accept anything less than Anne Sacoolas' return.

'To the extent that the United States wishes to have anyone from the UK extradited to the US, including Prince Andrew, then they will absolutely have to send Anne Sacoolas back first'.

The Foreign Office is still looking at alternative options including a trial of Sacoolas in absentia in the UK, issuing an Interpol red notice, which would mean she would be arrested as soon as she left US soil.

America and Britain have traditionally agreed to extradition of people between the two countries unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The Government could choose to reject more cases if it is unhappy with Mike Pompeo's decision over Sacoolas.

The FBI, which investigates major cases on behalf of US attorneys who prosecute them in courts, has vowed to unravel Epstein's network.

US attorney general William Barr has promised to bring charges against anyone who may have helped him.

Prince Andrew has always denied any impropriety, or having any knowledge Epstein was a paedophile, with the FBI treating the duke as a witness rather than a suspect.

If US prosecutors wanted to extradite Andrew, they would have to either obtain an arrest warrant or a grand jury indictment together with an arrest warrant, and make a request to the UK.

The Home Office would have to decide whether it was a lawful request or whether an extradition should be refused, with the case going to a magistrates' court if it proceeds.

Andrew would then have to decide whether to be extradited voluntarily or whether to challenge it. An alternative is that he could speak to the FBI in London, if he invited agents to see him.

The Duke of York was last week threatened with a subpoena if he ever returns to the US - which looks increasingly unlikely.

Last year the Duke of York pledged to 'help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations' into Epstein, his billionaire friend who killed himself.

But speaking on the steps of Epstein's New York mansion in January, state attorney Geoffrey Berman accused the Queen's son of providing 'zero co-operation' and ignoring a request for an interview.

Lisa Bloom's mother Gloria Allred, another high-powered lawyer for five more of Epstein's accusers, has previously told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We could, also, in our civil law suit, seek to subpoena Prince Andrew. Certainly, if he ever came back to the United States - that would be one of the first things that I'm sure a lot of lawyers, including me, would want to do'.

She added: 'If he has done nothing wrong, which appears to be what he has claimed, then why won't he talk to law enforcement? No response is the same as zero co-operation. This is ridiculous. It's just not acceptable'.

Lisa Bloom told BBC News: 'Push has come to shove. There are dozens of women who allege they were the victims of sexual assault by this predator Jeffrey Epstein.

'It is time for anyone with information to come forward and answer questions. Prince Andrew himself is accused of sexual misconduct and he also spent a great deal of time with Jeffrey Epstein. So, it's time to stop playing games and to come forward to do the right thing and answer questions.'

Virginia Roberts, now known by her married name Virginia Giuffre, has also launched a fresh attack on Prince Andrew, warning him he is 'not above the law'.

A lawyer for Miss Roberts, who claims she had sex with Andrew three times, said: 'Prince Andrew's continued refusal to cooperate with the authorities after freely acknowledging that he would be prepared to answer enquiries raises even more questions about the role he played in the international sex trafficking ring Jeffrey Epstein and others operated.

'Prince Andrew should take most seriously the deeply held belief in this country that no one is above the law.'

During his Newsnight interview in November, Andrew said he did not recall meeting Miss Roberts.

Prince Andrew, pictured with the Queen heading to church at Sandringham on January 19, has been urged to 'do the right thing' and speak to the FBI about what he knew about Epstein

On the occasion she said they first met in 2001 - when she claimed she was 'trafficked' to Britain by Epstein aged 17 - he said he spent the day with his daughter Beatrice and then took her to Pizza Express in Woking. He also questioned his 36-year-old accuser's account of them dancing together at the London nightclub Tramp, when she said he was sweating heavily.

The Duke of York said he had suffered from a medical condition at the time, caused by being shot at during the Falklands War, which meant he did not sweat.

He also sought to cast doubt on the authenticity of a photograph that showed him with his arm around Miss Roberts' waist, but conceded that it was difficult to prove whether it was a fake.

Andrew admitted he had 'let the side down' when he had failed to cut ties with Epstein immediately after the American was jailed in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor, and registered as a sex offender.

Andrew had last year pledged to 'help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations' into Epstein, but, speaking on the steps of Epstein's New York mansion, Mr Berman suggested the prince had rebuffed all attempts by federal prosecutors to interview him over the affair despite a high-profile investigation into Epstein's 'co-conspirators'.

Berman made his remarks about the Epstein case during a joint appearance with members of Safe Horizon, a nonprofit victim services agency, to discuss a new New York law that makes it easier for people to sue over childhood sexual abuse.

The attorney wouldn't discuss the investigation in detail, but did confirm that prosecutors are looking at possible 'conspirators' who worked with Epstein.

'Jeffrey Epstein couldn't have done what he did without the assistance of others, and I can assure you that the investigation is moving forward,' Berman said.

The attorney declined to comment when asked if Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's close companion, is cooperating with investigators.

Before responding to a reporter's question about Andrew's involvement in the investigation, Berman acknowledged that his office typically doesn't comment on whether a particular individual is cooperating.

'However, in Prince Andrew's case, he publicly offered, indeed in a press release, offered to cooperate with law enforcement investigating the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators,' Berman said.

Buckingham Palace is not commenting on the matter.

A source told DailyMail.com: 'This issue is being dealt with by the Duke of York's legal team.'

Andrew has categorically denied having any knowledge that Epstein was sexually abusing teenage girls.

The prince was effectively sacked from his royal duties late last year amid renewed attention over his friendship with Epstein, and Miss Robert's claim that she had several sexual encounters with the prince, starting when she was just 17.

Miss Roberts gave her own interview to Panorama in which she insisted the prince was lying when he denied meeting her. She said that she had felt 'ashamed and dirty' after they had sex.

She says that after meeting her in Florida in 2000, Epstein flew her around the world and pressured her into having sex with numerous older men, including Andrew, two senior US politicians, a noted academic, wealthy financiers and the attorney Alan Dershowitz, who is now part of President Donald Trump's impeachment defense team.

All of those men have denied the allegations.
EPSTEIN AND ANDREW: THE PRINCE'S TIMELINE AND HOW IT STANDS UP TO WHAT OTHERS SAY

THE FIRST MEETING

What Andrew claims: Prince Andrew claimed in his disastrous BBC interview that he met Epstein through Ghislaine Maxwell in 1999.

What others say: In a 2011 letter about his friendship with the pedophile, one of the Duke's aides said they met in the early 1990s. The aide's timeline corresponds with when Epstein and Maxwell met, following the death of her father in 1991. In a 2007 letter that was sent to prosecutors in Florida to try to lessen Epstein's sentence for his first sex trafficking case, he was praised with helping her overcome her grief.

THE ALLEGED INCIDENTS WITH VIRGINIA ROBERTS

Roberts, now known by her married name Virginia Giuffre, claims that in 2001, she had sex with the Duke when she was 17 inside Ghislaine Maxwell's London townhouse. She says it was the first of three encounters; the others taking place in New York and on Epstein's Caribbean island.

To support her allegations, which she first shared in a 2011, she released a photograph

What Andrew claims: He never had sex with Roberts and does not even remember ever meeting her.

What others say: No one but Roberts has gone on the record to verify her claims about Andrew specifically but she is among a group of Epstein victims now demanding apologies and answers from anyone who was associated with his lifestyle. Her ex-boyfriend from Tony Figueroa has said he knew of the photograph of them.

EPSTEIN'S FIRST CRIMINAL CASE

In 2007, Epstein was charged with sexually trafficking minors in Florida. He negotiated a sweetheart deal for himself which involved pleading guilty in exchange for just one year of prison time, during which he was allowed to leave to go to work everyday.

He was released in 2010 and Andrew then went to visit him in New York. The infamous Central Park photograph was taken during his trip.

What Andrew claims: Andrew said in his BBC interview that he went to visit Epstein to end their friendship.

'I took the judgement call that because this was serious, and I felt that doing it over the telephone was the chicken's way of doing it, I had to go and see him and talk to him,' he said. He previously described the trip as 'a mistake.'

What others say: In 2011, a Daily Beast article described a party which Epstein threw in the Duke's honor during the trip. It listed Woody Allen and Katie Couric among guests. Literary agent Max Brockman also described seeing Andrew receiving a foot massage from a Russian woman inside Epstein's home during the trip.

He claimed, in an email, that Andrew complained about the treatment he received publicly, saying: 'In Monaco, Albert works 12 hours a day but at 9pm, when he goes out, he does whatever he wants, and nobody cares. But, if I do it, I'm in big trouble.'

EPSTEIN'S SECOND ARREST

Andrew said nothing of Epstein's arrest in July at the time. It was only until after he had killed himself and questions had resurfaced about the Duke's friendship with him that he issued a statement. In it he said he knew nothing of the allegations against him and that he sympathized with the victims.

What Andrew says: Andrew said he saw Ghislaine Maxwell 'this year' but that they did not discuss Epstein's case and that it 'wasn't in the news' at the time. He said he had no knowledge of the allegations against his friend.

What others say: Prosecutors started looking into Epstein's sweetheart deal with Alex Acosta as far back as February.