The Prime Minister has said anyone with relevant information about Jeffrey Epstein should be willing to testify, as new US court files reignite scrutiny of prominent figures linked to the financier…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should be prepared to testify before the US Congress over his past dealings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of new documents by the US Department of Justice. Speaking to reporters, Starmer said: “In terms of testifying, I have always said anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information.” He added: “You can’t be victim-centred if you’re not prepared to do that. Epstein’s victims have to be the first priority.”
The comments came after US authorities released more than three million pages of material related to Epstein, six weeks after a deadline set by legislation signed by US President Donald Trump. Among the documents are photographs appearing to show Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling over a woman lying on the floor in what seems to be Epstein’s New York mansion. No context is provided for the images. In two of the pictures, he is seen touching the woman, who is fully clothed, on her stomach. Another image shows him staring directly at the camera.
Democrats in Congress had previously asked Mountbatten-Windsor to answer questions as part of their investigation into Epstein in November. At the time, Starmer said the invitation was a matter for Mountbatten-Windsor to consider “personally”. The former royal, previously known as Prince Andrew and the Duke of York, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and said he did not “see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction”.
Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal titles in October following renewed scrutiny over his links to Epstein. Separate emails released in the latest batch suggest Epstein invited him to dinner with a 26-year-old woman in 2010. In the exchange, Epstein describes the woman as “26, russian, clevere [sic] beautiful, trustworthy and yes she has your email”. Mountbatten-Windsor replies that he would be in Geneva “until the morning of the 22nd but would be delighted to see her”, asking whether she would be “bringing a message from you” and if Epstein had “any other information you might know about her that might be useful to know”. The emails were sent two years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor. The latest documents do not indicate any wrongdoing by Mountbatten-Windsor.
The files also appear to show Epstein providing financial support to Sarah Ferguson, Mountbatten-Windsor’s former wife, over a period of 15 years. In correspondence from 2009, Ferguson outlines business ideas and thanks Epstein for being “the brother I have always wished for”. In the same year, she asks for £20,000 for a rent payment, writing: “The landlord has threatened to go to the newspapers if I don’t pay. Any brainwaves?” Further emails suggest Epstein wanted Ferguson to issue a statement saying he was “not a pedo” and that she had been “duped” into believing allegations about him. Publicist Mike Sitrick replied to Epstein’s request by saying: “With pleasure.” Ferguson has been approached for comment.
Starmer was also questioned about documents showing Epstein sent £10,000 in 2009 to Reinaldo Avila da Silva, the partner of Lord Mandelson. In an email, da Silva details the costs of an osteopathy course and thanks Epstein for “anything you can help me with”. Epstein replies: “I will wire your loan amount immediately”, with da Silva later confirming receipt of the funds. Lord Mandelson, who had been appointed UK ambassador to the US in December 2024, was removed from the post less than a year later after it emerged he had sent supportive messages to Epstein following his conviction. Asked about Mandelson, Starmer said he “was removed as ambassador in relation to the further information that came to light in September of last year”. Mandelson said he had been “very clear” about his relationship with Epstein and had “nothing more to add”.
The latest release includes more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, many of them heavily redacted. Democratic members of the US House Judiciary Committee have asked the Department of Justice for immediate access to the full files, saying the need to review the material is “urgent” ahead of a public hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi. The committee has raised questions over why only about half of the estimated Epstein-related pages have been made public.
Being named or pictured in the documents does not in itself indicate wrongdoing. Many individuals referenced in earlier releases have denied any involvement in criminal activity linked to Epstein.
