CPS advising UK police on investigation into Andrew and Mandelson links to Epstein

Police are receiving advice from prosecutors as part of their inquiries into Peter Mandelson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Jeffrey Epstein.The former duke of York and the former UK ambassador to the US were both arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over their connections with the late financier. They have since been released under investigation.A Crown Prosecution Service spokesperson said on Wednesday: “We can confirm that we are now providing early investigative advice to the Metropolitan Police Service regarding the force’s investigation into a 72-year-old man and will continue to liaise as requested.“We can now also confirm that we are providing early investigative advice to Thames Valley Police in relation to a 66-year-old man. We remain ready to support any investigation if needed.”This week it was confirmed that King Charles will go ahead with a state visit to the US in late April, despite some politicians saying the trip will be a “humiliation” while Donald Trump’s war with Iran continues. It is understood that Charles and Camilla will not be able to meet victims while UK police are investigating matters related to Epstein.The US congressman Ro Khanna wrote to the king on Monday to call for him to meet survivors privately during the state visit. In a statement to BBC Newsnight on Tuesday evening, the family of Virginia Giuffre also “strongly” urged the king to meet them, as well as survivors of Epstein. Giuffre died by suicide last year.At a press conference on Wednesday, Keir Starmer declined to say whether there was a “moral case” for the king to meet the victims when asked by reporters. The prime minister instead said the “focus of the visit” would be on the 250th anniversary of American independence.Mandelson and Mountbatten-Windsor have faced a public fallout over their relationships with Epstein, who was jailed for soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his titles and given notice to vacate the 30-room home in Windsor that he occupied on a peppercorn rent. He was arrested on 19 February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he shared confidential material with the convicted child sex offender while serving as the UK’s trade envoy.Mandelson was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to Washington last September and resigned from the House of Lords in February over his ties to Epstein. He was arrested on 23 February on suspicion of misconduct in public office over claims he allegedly leaked sensitive government information to Epstein while serving as business secretary in Gordon Brown’s cabinet. Mandelson and Mountbatten-Windsor have both denied wrongdoing.The National Police Chiefs’ Council announced on Tuesday that the police response to the release of the so-called Epstein files by the US Department of Justice was to be “stepped up”.A dedicated group would look at the “scale, scope and nature of any potential UK-based VAWG [violence against women and girls] offending within the files”, the NPCC added.It has also invited alleged victims of Epstein who have spoken to UK media to talk to investigators about potential crimes that may have taken place on British soil.