'Zero cooperation' from UK prince in Epstein probe: US

By James Reinl

NEW YORK (AA) — British royal Prince Andrew has provided “zero cooperation” in a sex trafficking probe involving himself and a millionaire pal, an attorney said on Monday.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman said he had contacted the prince and his lawyers but had not received any assistance from about Jeffrey Epstein, a disgraced U.S. financier who committed suicide pending a sex trafficking trial in August.

"To date, Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation," said Berman, speaking outside the late businessman's mansion in New York City on Monday, according to several news agencies.

Andrew, who has been accused of having sex with a teenage girl who was trafficked by Epstein, indicated after a television interview last year that he would be willing to help in any investigation linked to the case.

“I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required,” the British royal statement said.

The prince has been repeatedly criticized for having a close friendship with Epstein, who allegedly abused dozens of underage girls, some as young as 14, at his Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida properties, and conspired to commit sex trafficking.

Andrew stopped carrying out royal duties after he gave a widely-criticized interview with the BBC in November, in which the prince defended himself against swirling allegations around his ties to Epstein.

Andrew told the BBC interviewer that he had no recollection of meeting Virginia Giuffre -- formerly known as Virginia Roberts -- and denied having a sexual relationship with her when she was 17.

Epstein hanged himself in August in a jail cell in New York, where he awaited a trial on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.