The woman on the floor under Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Jeffrey Epstein‘s New York mansion is a sex trafficking victim, a senior US politician has claimed.
Two images of the former prince crouching over an unidentified woman in the paedophile financier’s home were among the Epstein files released on January 30.
Their context is unknown, but California congressman Ted Lieu held up the images during a hearing at the House Judiciary Committee in Washington DC yesterday.
He made the claim about the woman being a sex trafficking victim while questioning US Attorney General Pam Bondi over why Andrew has never been prosecuted.
Mr Lieu said: ‘Please put the photos back up, we are looking at a sex trafficking victim under the federal Victims Trafficking Protection Act.
Andrew features a number of times in the Epstein files, including images apparently showing him crouching over an unidentified woman in what appears to be Epstein’s New York mansion
Another image showing Andrew next to the woman released by the US Department of Justice
Two photos of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are displayed as US Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington DC yesterday
Congressman Ted Lieu questions Attorney General Pam Bondi during yesterday’s hearing
‘Not only is Jeffrey Epstein guilty, but anyone who patronised Epstein’s sex operation is also guilty of a crime. That’s why I find it absolutely despicable that you sought to protect Epstein’s clients, like former Prince Andrew.
‘These two photos staring you in the face are evidence of a crime, and more than enough evidence to predicate an investigation against former Prince Andrew.
‘So I asked you, Attorney General Counsel, why did you shut down this investigation last July? And why have you not prosecuted former Prince Andrew?’
While Ms Bondi confirmed the woman’s face had been redacted under laws protecting trafficking victims, she denied that the photographs proved criminality.
Andrew waves goodbye to a woman leaving Epstein’s home in New York in December 2010
Jeffrey Epstein’s home in New York, where Andrew stayed during his visit in December 2010
Andrew and Charles at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral at Westminster Cathedral last September
It is not known whether Mr Lieu has had special insight on the Epstein investigations, but some US politicians are understood to have seen unredacted files.
The Department of Justice, which published more than three million documents relating to Epstein in the latest release, has never brought charges against Andrew.
Many women connected to Epstein have previously been described by the US as sex trafficking victims under federal law – but this characterisation had never been given to the woman in the Andrew photos.
There is no suggestion of criminal activity from the pictures themselves, and Andrew has always strenuously denied wrongdoing.
More to follow
