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The FBI Is Calling On Prince Andrew To Come Forward Following Ghislaine Maxwell's Arrest

Mary-Jane Wiltsher

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| Last updated 

The FBI Is Calling On Prince Andrew To Come Forward Following Ghislaine Maxwell's Arrest

Featured Image Credit: PA

Pressure on Prince Andrew to speak to FBI investigators has soared following the arrest of his friend Ghislaine Maxwell on Thursday.

The socialite, a long-term friend of Andrew, was charged with the sex trafficking of under-age girls as part of the ongoing inquiry into billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein

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Speaking at a press conference in New York which detailed the charges against Maxwell, US Prosecutor Audrey Strauss urged the Prince to come forward.

Strauss said: "We would welcome Prince Andrew coming in to talk with us, we would like to have the benefit of his statement."

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Strauss went on to say that the investigative team's "doors remain open" and they would "welcome [Prince Andrew] coming in".

Epstein and Maxwell pictured together before his arrest (Credit: Shutterstock)
Epstein and Maxwell pictured together before his arrest (Credit: Shutterstock)

"I have no further comment beyond what I just said, which is that our doors remain open, as we previously said, and we would welcome him coming in and giving us an opportunity to hear his statement," she continued.

Maxwell, 58 - who was arrested this week in New Hampshire - is the daughter of the late Robert Maxwell, and is accused of helping Epstein to "recruit, groom and ultimately abuse" at least three girls, including one as young as 14, between the years of 1994 and 1997.

Epstein, a convicted sex offender who worked as a financier, died aged 66 in his New York prison in August 2019. His death was deemed to be suicide.

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Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested in New Hampshire on Thursday (Credit: PA)
Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested in New Hampshire on Thursday (Credit: PA)

Prince Andrew - who had a long-standing friendship with Maxwell and Epstein - is said to be "bewildered" by the calls from investigators for him to come forward.

The Guardian reported that a source close to the prince's working group said his lawyers had been in communication with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) twice in the past month, but has "received no response".

"The duke's team remains bewildered given that we have twice communicated with the DOJ in the last month and to date we have had no response," the source said.

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Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died aged 66 in his New York prison in August 2019
Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died aged 66 in his New York prison in August 2019

Talking about the severity of Maxwell's alleged crimes, prosecutor Strauss said: "Maxwell played a critical role in helping Epstein to identify, befriend and groom minor victims for abuse. In some cases, Maxwell participated in the abuse."

"She set the trap. She pretended to be a woman they [alleged victims] could trust."

According to the charges, Maxwell and Epstein developed relationships with young girls, grooming them by taking them on shopping trips and to the cinema.

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The abuse of these women would take place around the world, at Epstein's mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, his ranch in Sante Fe, New Mexico, and at Maxwell's home in London.

Topics: Jeffrey Epstein, News

Mary-Jane Wiltsher
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