Fresh evidence and security concerns put Duke of York back in the spotlight
Prince Andrew is facing the prospect of a renewed FBI investigation into his ties with Jeffrey Epstein, following statements from Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel.
During his Senate confirmation hearings, Patel pledged to reveal the full extent of Epstein’s network, vowing to expose anyone involved in the disgraced financier’s criminal activities. He emphasised that child sex trafficking “has no place in the US” and committed to making records public, including flight logs and details of those who enabled Epstein’s operations.
Fresh evidence has emerged suggesting that, despite his claims of severing ties in 2010, Andrew was still in contact with Epstein in February 2011. This revelation raises further questions about his 2019 Newsnight interview, where he insisted he had cut communication with Epstein after a widely criticised meeting in New York.
Adding to the controversy, the Duke of York is also under scrutiny over his alleged ties to Chinese businessman and Communist Party member Yang Tengbo, who was reportedly invited to Andrew’s birthday party in 2020. MI5 later banned Yang from entering the UK on national security grounds, further complicating the Duke’s already embattled public image.
As renewed attention falls on Andrew’s past associations, the developments could bring further legal and reputational challenges for the royal.
