[Guns N' Coffee]

https://apnews.com/article/britain-e...51914ee3f3583d

LONDON (AP) — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former British prince who was stripped of his royal titles because of his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

While Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with his friendship with Epstein, concerns about Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to the late financier have dogged the royal family for more than a decade. But the arrest of a brother of a monarch was an extraordinary development with no precedent in modern times that will no doubt put more pressure on the crown.

After the arrest, King Charles III said that the law must take its course in the investigation, and he sought to reassure the British public that he would continue to serve them.

Thames Valley Police said that a man in his 60s from Norfolk in eastern England was arrested and remained in custody. The force, which covers areas west of London, including Mountbatten-Windsor’s former home, did not identify the suspect, in line with standard procedures in Britain, but pointed to its statement when asked to confirm if Andrew was arrested.

Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66 on Thursday, moved to Charles’ estate in Norfolk after he was evicted from his longtime home near Windsor Castle earlier this month.

Thames Valley Police previously said it was “assessing” reports that Mountbatten-Windsor sent confidential trade reports to Epstein in 2010, when the former prince was Britain’s special envoy for international trade. Those reports stemmed from correspondence between the two men that was among the millions of pages of documents from the U.S. Justice Department’s investigation into Epstein that were released last month.

“Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office,’’ Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said in a statement. “We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”

Police also said they were searching two properties.

The arrest came after pictures circulated online that appeared to show unmarked police cars at Wood Farm, Mountbatten-Windsor’s home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, with plainclothes officers gathering outside.

The allegations being investigated Thursday are separate from those made by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she had been trafficked to Britain to have sex with Andrew in 2001, when she was just 17. Giuffre died by suicide last year.

Still, Giuffre’s family praised the arrest, saying: “Today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty.”

The family added: “He was never a prince. For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you.”

“This is the most spectacular fall from grace for a member of the royal family in modern times,” said Craig Prescott, a royal expert at Royal Holloway, University of London.

The last time a senior British royal was arrested was almost 400 years ago during the reign of King Charles I that saw a growing power struggle between the crown and Parliament.

After the king attempted to arrest lawmakers in the House of Commons in 1642, hostilities erupted into the English Civil War, which ended with victory for the parliamentary forces of Oliver Cromwell.

Charles was arrested, tried, convicted of high treason and beheaded in 1649.

The late Queen Elizabeth II forced Mountbatten-Windsor to give up royal duties and end his charitable work in 2019 after he tried to explain away his ties to Epstein during a catastrophic interview with the BBC.

But more details about the relationship emerged in a book published last year, and Charles stripped him of the right to be called a prince and ordered him to move.

Then came the unprecedented announcement last week that Buckingham Palace was ready to cooperate in the event of a police inquiry into Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein.

Charles was forced to act after the U.S. Justice Department released millions of pages of Epstein documents that revealed the extent of his relationship with Mountbatten-Windsor and showed that their correspondence continued long after Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution.

Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges brought by federal prosecutors in New York in 2019. He took his own life in jail while awaiting trial.

After Thursday’s arrest, Charles issued a statement to reiterate that he would cooperate with the investigation.

“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course,’’ the king said. “As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.’’

He addressed the British public, saying: “My family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.’’

He signed the statement Charles R., in line with the convention that British monarchs use to sign their names, with the R. standing for rex, Latin for king.

Policing commentator Danny Shaw told the BBC that in most cases, suspects are held between 12 and 24 hours and are then either charged or released pending further investigation.

The absolute longest the former prince can be held for is 96 hours — but this would require multiple extensions from senior police officers and a Magistrate’s Court. It is unclear what time Andrew was arrested.

Andrew will be placed in “a cell in a custody suite” with just “a bed and a toilet,” where he will wait until his police interview.

“There’ll be no special treatment for him,″ Shaw said.

[Mr.NoCredit]

Too bad the US doesn’t seem to prosecute higher ups. You’re guilty until proven wealthy here in the states. Money buys powerful attorneys that know the loopholes to get you out of trouble.

[houseoftechno]

The Mountbatten formerly known as Prince spent decades working for Britain Gov in mid-level honorary special envoy positions with zero oversight - like who is going to supervise a Royal? He independently arranged money laundering enterprises with the international underworld, and landed millions in bank transfers and gifts in exchange for his services. The gregarious Fergie was in on it and continued to front their enterprise following their divorce. Neither expected any pushback due to their positions. They liked to use corrupt international aid organizations to funnel their money - like who would have the audacity to audit a charity? They were seasoned pros working the balance between royal privilege, honorable public relations and high crimes.

[spudigitti]

Days after the death penalty was suggested in the UK parliament as a punishment that should be reinstated

[kellyhound]

Charles issued a statement to reiterate that he would cooperate with the investigation.

“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course,’’ the king said. “As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.’’

He addressed the British public, saying: “My family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.’’

He signed the statement Charles R., in line with the convention that British monarchs use to sign their names, with the R. standing for rex, Latin for king.

What a deadbeat King he is, not to mention all the controversy he sparked in the past like the black spider memos, tampongate, the bin Laden connection where in 2022 it was revealed that Charles's charity, the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund, accepted a £1 million donation from the half-brothers of Osama bin Laden in 2013.

His foundation faced a police investigation over allegations that a top aide offered to help a Saudi billionaire secure a knighthood and British citizenship in exchange for donations.

He was accused of interfering with modern architecture using his influence to kill off projects he personally disliked.

He personally allowed his office to leak stories to the press to protect his and Camilla’s reputation at the expense of his youngest son, Prince Harry

[akham]

Hopefully Police will also end up proving many instances of Misconduct in Pubic Oriface.

[Pyramid_Head]

It's always nice when there's an arrest of these fucks that think they're above the law. Sadly this is rare....

[MartyK]

Absolute sex case. Always been a wrongun. Had no idea about the Bin Laden thing :o

[kellyhound]

Policing commentator Danny Shaw told the BBC that in most cases, suspects are held between 12 and 24 hours and are then either charged or released pending further investigation.

The absolute longest the former prince can be held for is 96 hours — but this would require multiple extensions from senior police officers and a Magistrate’s Court. It is unclear what time Andrew was arrested.

Andrew remains "released under investigation" after being held for 11 hours on his 66th birthday.

He has not been formally charged, but he remains a person of interest as the Thames Valley Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) assess the evidence.

Police continued a "room-by-room" search of Andrew's former residence, Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, through the weekend.

Officers are looking for evidence of "misconduct in public office" related to the alleged sharing of confidential trade documents with Epstein.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are "identifying and contacting" former and serving close protection officers who guarded Andrew during a dinner party at Epstein’s New York home.

This follows DOJ email releases showing the Met was instructed to provide security at the event.

The British government is reportedly considering legislation to remove Andrew from the line of succession.

A recent YouGov poll indicated that 82% of respondents believe he should be removed following his arrest.

[GoreGirl89]

He fucked up big time when he said he didn't know Virginia and had never met her.

These old nasty men think they're entitled to underage struggling girls they took off the street. Let me help you dear, fucking gross.