What the release of Epstein files means for Prince Andrew
With the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, Prince Andrew is bracing for renewed scrutiny over his controversial association.
Image: File picture
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has been warned to “brace himself” amid mounting anticipation surrounding the imminent release of US government records tied to his former associate, Jeffrey Epstein.
The US Congress is set to begin receiving a batch of confidential files from the Department of Justice this Friday, following a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee.
The committee has assured that the materials will undergo meticulous review, with redactions to protect victim identities and minimise the release of sensitive content.
For the disgraced royal, already haunted by years of scandal, the prospect of his name featuring in these files marks a new phase of public scrutiny.
The allegations surrounding his friendship with Epstein - including accusations involving the late Virginia Giuffre, who referred to herself in legal filings as a "teen sex slave" - have long plagued his reputation, despite his continued denials.
A survivor of Epstein's abuse warned that when these documents are made public, high-profile figures - including Prince Andrew, will face renewed pressure to confront their past associations.
She emphasised that “no amount of royal privilege, no titles, no lawyers” should shield him from the truth.
Attorney Gloria Allred, representing several of Epstein’s survivors, has pressed the duke to step forward and potentially testify before US lawmakers, saying, “now more than ever, he should come forward, and he could volunteer to testify publicly”.
The urgency surrounding the disclosure has only increased after federal judges rejected attempts to unseal grand jury transcripts - siding with privacy concerns despite mounting public demand for transparency.
Inside Congress, Representative Summer Lee criticised the Department of Justice for failing to meet its deadline for handing over the documents and voiced fears that the files might arrive incomplete or overly redacted.
Oversight Committee Chair James Comer has framed the document release as a critical step toward illuminating the full scope of the Epstein saga - pointing fingers at the Trump administration for allegedly impeding transparency.
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