Keir Starmer suggests Andrew should testify in US over Epstein links

The Prime Minister has weighed in on whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should testify over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Sir Keir Starmer suggested that Andrew ‘should be prepared’ to testify before the US Congress about his relationship with Epstein.

His comments come after the former duke, who was stripped of his royal titles last year, was featured again in an Epstein file release by the US Department of Justice.

Images showed a man, believed to be Andrew, crouched over an unnamed woman lying on her back on the floor and with his hands on her abdomen.

Andrew has consistently denied accusations of any wrongdoing.

Sir Keir called for a ‘victim-centred’ approach to dealing with Epstein, saying this should always be the priority for anyone ‘who’s got information.’

The PM was asked if Andrew should apologise and testify at the congressional hearing into Epstein as he arrived in Japan for the final part of his trip to east Asia, including China.

Sir Keir said: ‘Firstly I always approach this question with the victims of Epstein’s in mind. Epstein’s victims have to be the first priority. Whether there should be an apology, that’s a matter for Andrew.

‘But, yes, in terms of testifying, I’ve always said anybody who’s got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they’re asked to do that because you can’t be victim-centred if you’re not prepared to do that.’

Lord Mandelson, the former ambassador to the US who was sacked over his continued contact with Epstein came to light, also featured in the latest tranche of documents.

Lord Mandelson has offered an unequivocal apology to Epstein’s victims.

The documents showed exchanges between Epstein and Reinaldo Avila da Silva, the husband of Lord Mandelson, about paying a fee for him to attend the British School of Osteopathy.

One email referred to a £10,000 transfer from Epstein.

Sir Keir was asked if the payment, apparently made while Lord Mandelson was serving as business secretary, fell below the standards of a peer of the realm.

The Prime Minister replied: ‘In relation to Peter Mandelson, obviously he was removed as ambassador in relation to the further information that came to light in September of last year and I’ve nothing more to say in relation to Peter Mandelson.’

Andrew was summoned in front of the US Congress in November to testify on the ongoing Epstein investigation.

The letter, from the Democratic members of the House oversight committee, said they think he might have crucial information due to the men’s ‘longstanding and well-documented friendship.’

Suhas Subramanyam, a Democratic Representative, said: ‘After hearing from Epstein’s victims and public reporting of leaked documents, it is vital that Andrew cooperates with the ongoing investigation.

‘If he is innocent, then he can clear his name. And if not, our investigation will show that, and the victims will receive long overdue justice.

It comes after the scandal over the former Duke of York’s links with the convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has lingered on, compounded by the posthumous publication of sex trafficking survivor Virginia Giuffre’s memoir last month.

Giuffre, who died in April at the age of 41, was one of the most prominent accusers of Epstein, and she claimed Andrew had sex with her when she was just 17.

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