Police investigating Andrew seek Met’s Virginia Giuffre files
Detectives investigating Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will seek files from the Metropolitan Police on his late accuser Virginia Giuffre and are likely to speak to his former protection officers.
Thames Valley police, who are appealing for the public to come forward with information about alleged wrongdoing by Andrew, are understood to be in contact with the Met to review the force’s records.
Andrew’s royal protection officers stayed with him at properties owned by the American paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and were even instructed to provide security at his New York home, according to emails released by the US Department of Justice (DoJ).
While the Met has said it has not uncovered any wrongdoing by its officers, Thames Valley detectives will want to speak with them to be confident there are no outstanding inquiries or information about what they saw.
In 2022 Andrew paid a £12 million settlement to his main accuser, Giuffre, who claimed he sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17. Andrew denied wrongdoing and said he did not remember meeting Giuffre.
There have been allegations that in 2011, after she went public with claims against him, Andrew passed Giuffre’s social security number and date of birth to his Met protection officer for the purpose of digging up dirt to smear her. The Met has said there was no evidence of any misconduct nor searches indicating that the alleged request was followed up.
The Met interviewed Giuffre in July 2015 after she made complaints of trafficking for sexual exploitation by Epstein, who died in his prison cell in New York four years later, and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. However, the force did not launch a full-blown investigation, saying there was no allegation of criminal conduct against any UK-based nationals, and that any investigation into human trafficking would be largely focused on activities outside the UK and perpetrators based overseas.
The Met has reviewed the case on a series of occasions including late last year, months after Giuffre’s death, and its position remains unchanged. Thames Valley officers are understood to be seeking records in relation to its interviews and decision-making process.
Andrew was arrested on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office (Mipo) after material in the Epstein files, the DoJ document dump comprising millions of emails, suggested that, as a government trade envoy, he had forwarded confidential information to his friend Epstein. He has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
On Friday Thames Valley appealed for potential victims and witnesses to come forward, emphasising that Mipo was “a crime that can take different forms”.
It is understood that detectives are examining a wide range of possible crimes, including sexual misconduct and corruption, that fall under the broad banner of Mipo.
However, policing sources have since claimed that detectives went public with an appeal, and a broadening inquiry, because they were struggling to build a solid case against Andrew. It is understood they are still seeking evidence to prove conclusively that his position as envoy met the definition of a public official.
Mipo is a complex offence to prosecute because there is no official list of roles that constitute a public official, while the misconduct must be clearly linked to the suspect’s role.
Thames Valley detectives are still assessing allegations that a woman was trafficked to the UK by Epstein for a sexual encounter with Andrew. Her lawyer is co-operating with police but she has not been interviewed.
The Mail on Sunday reported that she had decided not to pursue a formal criminal complaint, citing fears over loss of privacy and unwanted publicity.
Police are also said to be examining allegations that Andrew behaved inappropriately towards a woman at Royal Ascot in 2002, though details of the alleged incident are unclear.
DOCUMENTED REFERENCES
Exploring Documented Records
Public interest in the Epstein case continues not only because of court proceedings and testimonies, but also due to the growing body of documented records that help researchers and readers understand the broader context. Beyond legal files and media reports, some independent projects have organized publicly available data connected to Epstein’s activities.
One example is a structured archive of documented Amazon order records, where purchases are cataloged with dates and product details. While individual items do not prove wrongdoing on their own, examining documented information alongside established facts helps paint a clearer picture of the environment and circumstances surrounding the case.
Browse the structured archive of documented order records
For readers looking to review primary-source style data rather than interpretations, exploring compiled records can provide additional context to the broader discussion.
