Prince Andrew 'fails to cooperate' with FBI

[CathyorClaire]

www.thesun.co.uk/news/10832298/prince-andrew-provides-zero-cooperation-after-fbi-ask-to-interview-him-over-epstein-links/

No surprise there, then.

Do we think he'll hold out for the threatened subpoena or will the renewed public spotlight mean he jumps before he's pushed?

The USA will not be worried about UK law and I wouldn't believe anything that PA says, this is the man who claims he can't sweat and remembers going to Pizza Express 20 years ago. The DOJ obviously want him in the states which begs the question why?

Epstein had cameras everywhere who knows what they've got.

The statement from Prince Andrew today says that "The DOJ advised us that the duke is not and has never been a ‘target’ of their criminal investigations into Epstein and that they sought his confidential, voluntary cooperation"

If this was so there's have been no need for claims that he wasn't cooperating; unless he was worried about whatever else they may have up their sleeves, he could have helped them ages ago and cleared the whole thing up from his own point of view

But RF "spokesmen" lie like they breathe in order to protect their principals, so who knows where the truth lies (though the point about Epstein's cameras had occurred to me too)

Prince Andrew 'falsely portraying himself as willing', US prosecutor claims www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52973219

The thing is, he is now on record as saying he's willing to cooperate. The onus is now on the DoJ to do something about it. I'm not defending PA at all but after the release of that letter, I'm not sure what more he can do.

According to the BBC: "Under the terms of a MLA request if Prince Andrew does not voluntarily respond, he can be called to a UK court to answer questions"

As if that's ever going to happen ...

I do think he imagines it will all just go away. It won't.

I do think he imagines it will all just go away. It won't

To be fair it'll certainly go away among his immediate circle. His advisers won't dare mention it for fear of losing their jobs, the family will insist it's all down to those nasty plebs (as in HM's middle finger to the nation when deliberately pictured supporting him) and his more dubious contacts won't care

It won't do him much good if he tries to take up the reins of public life again though - which is probably why it's being said that he won't

More unpleasant publicity for the delightful Prince

The clicky link is the Guardian but there are also articles in theTelegragh and Times, but I don't have a share token for those.

The Prince Andrew Charitable Trust is to be wound up after it was found that Amanda Thirsk, PA's long-standing private secretary, was given money as a trustee in breach of Charity Commission rules.

That is really awful.

Let me get this right... he sets up a charity called Prince Andrew Charitable Trust. From his website 'The trust makes donations to charitable bodies where the Duke has a particular link or interest'
Hmmm...

He then pays his own personal private Secretary £355,000 which is strictly against charity commission rules. PA is now closing the charity down.
I bet he is!

He really is toxic.

Toxic is the right word. Let’s hope this is the start of him being held to account.

I don't think that is accurate reporting. I'm not defending Prince Andrew but he has always been prepared to answer questions. I would have thought he was low down on their list, there were far more important and influential people involved in Epstein's shenanigans but of course the Prince has the name which people remember. He is small fry really. He can hardly go out to the USA at the moment.

Quite honestly I believed police investigations were confidential at this stage in the game, it's quite concerning that so much is public - not that you can believe everything, we all know how the media love to muck rake - but it sets a precedent.

But the US Federal Bureau of Investigation has no authority or jusridiction outside the United States. I would refuse to cooperate too as a matter of principle. You can’t allow cowboy police from a foreign country to go around the world interrogating nonAmerican citizens who aren’t even in America!
The only international police with the authority to do that is Interpol and even they have to have the local nations police force shadowing them every step they take.

Not sure what isn't accurate reporting?

US prosecutors say he is not co operating. He says he is. I know who I am inclined to believe. I do agree though .. he is 'a name'. but you cannot have privilege all your life and expect to sail through this without your name being bandied about in this sort of case.

I agree, he can't go to the US at the moment, but before COVID it was said he will never go there again. Because he would immediately be questioned and he doesn't want that.

The US Attorney for New York has said that PA, through his lawyers, has repeatedly refused to be interviewed.

"The prince has not given an interview to federal authorities, has repeatedly declined our request to schedule such an interview, and nearly four months ago informed us unequivocally - through the very same counsel who issued today's release - that he would not come in for such an interview," Berman said.

Personally, I think the devil is in the detail. It is possibly all about the terms under which PA would agree to be interviewed, and arguing about that could go on and on.

PA always hopes these things will die a death and go away. Trouble is... they don't.

He doesn't need to go to the US to give evidence, it has been said from the beginning that this can be done in the UK

Exactly Duncin.

He is just wriggling and avoiding in the hope it goes away

I don't see how the RF are going to survive this. The whole circus depends on us thinking that the RF are is some way superior to us and I don't think anyone belives that by an accident of birth PA is a better person or in any way superior to themselves.

The whole title nonsense needs to stop as does the honours system that props it up by pretending that titles are earnt by merit. Society would improve and be a lot more equal if everyone was addressed as Mr/Mrs/Ms etc. The idea that someone is entitled to deference because of which vagina they came out of is ridiculous in modern times. I am sure the Obama DCs are lovely but nobody would think it appropriate for them to be treated with same respect that their father has earned, and I'm sure nobody thinks that they should be given a free taxpayer funded meal ticket for life on the back of it.

I don’t think it’s going to be the end of the monarchy at all. The monarchy for 1000s of years has been a self preserving entity. The monarchy evolves to suit its era and the Queen’s version of it is ‘duty and service’. I am fairly sure Charles will be like that too -otherwise Harry and Meghan could have stayed in and been free to mould their roles from the inside etc. So given the self preserving nature of the institution, which is always over and above the individuals involved, it’s more likely that Andrew will be distanced from the rest of the RF.

But the RF is more accountable now and with social media it can't hide it's dirty laundry as they did years ago. HMQ keeps within well defined parameters and is accepted but Charles is yet again spouting homeopathic nonsense in his interviews and he can't shut up about anything. It makes me very angry listening to that raging hypocrite whine on about the planet when he travels endlessly, often by private jet, and with a posse of toothpaste squeezers to accompany him. There is a lot of criticism for Harry doing the same but Charles is the ultimate hypocrite. If we say no more monarchy the duchy of cornwall reverts to the taxpayer and they can both travel by bus.

I really wonder if they can survive this!
It's such an iconoclastic period right now.

I think we are getting half a story.

I have no doubt PA wants any questioning conducted on his own terms and is stalling heavily to avoid anything but.

He is contemptible and the siphoning of charitable funds to an aide despicable.

I really wonder if they can survive this!

Trust me, they'll survive it - I wish it was otherwise but I try to be realistic

Their self-protection comes first, last and always and once lockdown's over there'll be a blizzard of carefully choreographed PR to make the mind spin, complete with pretty pics and (temporarily) enhanced access

And never ask me why, but for some that's all it'll take

I have no doubt PA wants any questioning conducted on his own terms and is stalling heavily to avoid anything but

That could go on for months/years.

I think this smells of US officials trying to build a career on the back of Epstein investigations and using Prince Andrew for publicity. I doubt there is much he can add to proceedings except as a publicity tool.

The Department of Justice doesn’t need “publicity” and if they did they aren’t going to use some obscure minor European royal. I’m honestly astounded that anyone is naive enough to buy the PR line that Andrew is pushing, much less help to actively spread it.

And this story has just disappeared from the press. How can that happen?