London —
In the aftermath of the sensational arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, former prince and trade envoy for Britain, allegations have emerged concerning his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein and potential misconduct during his tenure. Mountbatten-Windsor has been scrutinized for how he might have used police protection while visiting Epstein and whether taxpayer-funded resources facilitated these visits.
So far, the former prince has chosen not to respond to the new allegations, but has consistently denied any involvement in Epstein’s wrongdoing, asserting he was not aware of Epstein’s criminal activities. As the situation unfolds, CNN has reached out to Mountbatten-Windsor for further comment.
Gordon Brown, who served as prime minister from 2007 to 2010, has called for a police inquiry into whether Mountbatten-Windsor misused taxpayer-funded jets and Royal Air Force (RAF) facilities to meet Epstein. Brown has taken a prominent stance in advocating for accountability regarding British individuals tied to Epstein and has communicated with six police forces, urging them to investigate the former prince’s decade-long role as a trade envoy, which ended abruptly in 2011.
In his correspondence, Brown expressed concern that Mountbatten-Windsor may have utilized chartered RAF flights for personal engagements that could involve Epstein, labeling such use of public funds as “wholly unacceptable.” However, details of the new evidence that Brown refers to have not been publicly disclosed.
Further complicating matters, emails acquired from the U.S. Department of Justice reveal that taxpayer-funded officers from the Metropolitan Police were directed to provide security during an event at Epstein’s New York residence. The emails chronicle arrangements for Mountbatten-Windsor to stay with Epstein in December 2010, over a year after Epstein had served prison time for soliciting prostitution from a minor. One exchange from that November indicates discussions between Epstein’s staff regarding accommodations for Mountbatten-Windsor’s protection officers during the visit.
These communications have ignited public outrage in the UK, with many questioning the appropriateness of deploying police resources to support Mountbatten-Windsor’s travel to the home of a convicted sex offender. The Metropolitan Police stated that they have not yet identified any wrongdoing by their protection officers but are in the process of reaching out to current and former personnel to gather information related to the time period in question.
The release of the Epstein documents has also led to inquiries from multiple police forces in Britain. Essex Police is investigating allegations that Epstein trafficked women on flights passing through Stansted Airport, while Bedfordshire Police is looking into private flights associated with Luton Airport. Additionally, West Midlands Police are assessing whether Birmingham Airport was involved in similar activities.
As investigations progress, there is a palpable call for transparency and accountability surrounding the actions of those linked to Epstein, showcasing the complexity and the significant public interest in the unfolding story of Mountbatten-Windsor.