Major update on FBI probe into Prince Andrew's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein

An investigation by the FBI into Prince Andrew's relationship with paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein has been "parked" until "new evidence is presented that can move the case forward", say US authorities

The FBI probe into Prince Andrew and his friendship with paedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein has been “parked”, we can reveal.

Authorities in New York have shelved their investigation into the Duke of York until “new evidence is presented that can move the case forward”.

The decision comes more than four years after then-US attorney Geoffrey Berman called out the prince for breaking his commitment to speak to investigators, saying the royal had provided “zero cooperation” to the FBI ’s investigation.

A source close to the case told the Mirror: “The agents and attorneys who have, for years, worked diligently looking into Andrew’s friendship with Epstein are beyond frustrated. “They’re angry that the probe has been parked.

“But the truth be told, no new leads have been discovered for quite some time, and until new evidence is presented that can move the case forward, it has been shelved.”

Last night, one of those abused by now dead Epstein when she was a teenager labelled the move, a “systematic cover-up”. The 36-year-old, awarded compensation from the Wall Street financier’s victim’s fund, said: “All of us who have continued to fight for justice knew this day would one day come.

“From the very beginning, we have been denied our voices, brushed under the carpet and told to be quiet. The government always says that no one is above the law, but we all know that is untrue. For the past three decades, we have been party to a systematic cover-up, and this is now the final part of that.”

Sources have told the Mirror the probe, which included other high-profile and powerful men, has seen a gradual decline in hours spent pursuing the case since the end of last year. However, this has been accelerated in recent months as resources are being diverted to other major cases, including the high-profile probe into hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.

The legal source claimed that “hundreds of potential leads and dozens of possible victims have come forward in the Diddy investigation over the last month,” which has significantly strained federal investigators’ time and manpower. “It’s all hands on deck right now,” the source added. “The sheer volume of information being gathered in the Combs case is comparable to when the Epstein investigation first broke wide open.

“We simply don’t have the resources to keep every case running at full capacity, and right now, it’s the Diddy case consuming the lion’s share of investigative efforts.” Despite the huge public interest in Andrew’s connection to Epstein, the Southern District of New York (SDNY) is not expected to officially announce the investigation’s status per protocol.

However, a second source confirmed that the investigation into Duke, 64, has been put on hold for the foreseeable future. “Right now, resources are going elsewhere,” he stated. “The officers and agencies have compiled much of their findings on Prince Andrew from the years of investigations, but the matter remains at an impasse.”

The investigation, which included the royal, has been a point of contention for years. Although the Duke was not considered a criminal suspect, the FBI considered him a significant witness as they maintained an open mind. Despite allegations by Epstein’s “teen sex slave’ Virginia Giuffre, that the American financier loaned her out to sleep with the Duke on at least three occasions, the royal and his legal team have vehemently any wrongdoing.

The millionaire’s victims and Berman have long called for Andrew to face questioning under oath over his ties to the convicted sex offender, but progress has stalled. In 2020, when he was the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the lawyer made the extremely rare decision to blast Andrew publicly.

He accused the Duke of “seeking to falsely portray himself” as eager to help the Epstein inquiry before he accused Andrew of providing “zero cooperation.” Berman claimed that despite public statements to the contrary, the royal had “repeatedly declined” requests to schedule an interview.

Andrew’s legal team denied his claims, insisting that the Duke offered to assist authorities on at least three occasions. Nevertheless, no formal interview ever took place, and now, with the Epstein probe effectively on hold, it appears increasingly unlikely that US investigators will ever question Prince Andrew.

One key figures who could still potentially unlock new evidence is Ghislaine Maxwell, Andrew’s gal pal and Epstein’s former lover. The British socialite, 62, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty of trafficking young girls for her ex-boyfriend to abuse, and has so far remained tight-lipped.

Maxwell’s cooperation would be crucial in reactivating the investigation into Andrew, but those close to her say she would “never” speak to the FBI about the royal. One of the most vocal critics of Andrew’s association with Epstein is renowned US criminologist and victims’ rights activist John Walsh.

Walsh, best known for hosting America’s Most Wanted, has been an outspoken advocate for Epstein’s victims and has repeatedly called on US and UK authorities to investigate Andrew’s ties to the paedophile and Maxwell thoroughly. “Where is the joint investigation between the United States and Great Britain? Walsh said.

“What has anybody done? Where is the evidence linking Prince Andrew to Epstein? Why hasn’t he been questioned?” Walsh expressed frustration over what he perceives as a lack of action by law enforcement on both sides of the Atlantic. “This is a man who paid a settlement to someone,” Walsh said, referring to Andrew’s out-of-court £12 million deal with Giuffre to end a civil lawsuit she brought against him for sexual assault.

“How can we not have clarity on his involvement?” he added. Walsh is one of many prominent figures calling for answers. Gloria Allred, one of the US’s most influential civil rights lawyers, has been equally critical of Andrew’s lack of cooperation with the FBI. The famed attorney, who has represented Epstein’s victims, expressed disbelief that US authorities have not formally questioned the Duke.

“He’s got a lot of explaining to do,” Allred said. “To the best of my knowledge, Prince Andrew still hasn’t done an interview with law enforcement despite publicly claiming he’s willing to cooperate. Until he does, there will always be a dark cloud hanging over him.” While the investigation, which includes Andrew, remains “parked,” the legal source warned the royal “should not breathe a sigh of relief just yet.”

“There’s still time for a development,” they said, “but unless new evidence comes to light, it’s not likely to be pursued further.” Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.