As the Virginia Giuffre allegations were about to break in a British newspaper in 2011, Prince Andrew desperately emailed Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell ordering them to deny his involvement with her.
New emails from the Epstein files released by the House Oversight Committee, show Andrew, who used the email handle “The Duke,” desperately trying to save his own skin and plaintively declaring, “I can’t take any more of this.”
He sent the newly-released email on March 4, 2011, after the Daily Mail said they intended to run a lurid story about the trio and presented allegations which match those made by Virginia Giuffre.
In the email chain, Maxwell was initially forwarded a press inquiry from the Mail on Sunday which detailed Giuffre’s graphic allegations, from somebody named Mark Cohen, who told her: “FYI, following up on my email of this morning. Again, I have no intention of responding unless you direct otherwise.”
The email was forwarded from Maxwell to Epstein, and then from Epstein to Andrew, who is identified as “The Duke.”
On 4 March 2011, Andrew, assuming it is him who is using the email alias ‘The Duke,’ responds: “What? I don’t know any of this. How are you responding?”
Epstein responds: “Just got it two minutes ago. I’ve asked g [sic] lawyers to send a letter. Not sure … it’s so salacious and ridiculous, I’m not sure how to respond, the only person she didn’t have sex with was Elvis.”
“The Duke,” then replies to Epstein, saying: “Please make sure that every statement or legal letter states clearly that I am NOT involved and that I knew and know NOTHING about any of these allegations. I can’t take any more of this my end.”
Two days later on March 6, 2011 Epstein sends Andrew an email which seems to be intended for public consumption as it is subject lined, “Feel free to pass this to your press people.”
The message itself reads, “You ok? these stories are complete and utter fantasy. I don’t know and have never met Al Gore, Clinton was never on the island.. the telephone book is not mine, it was stolen by my houseman that is currently in prison for doing so.”
In another exchange, Epstein urges New York City publicist Peggy Siegal to get the Huffington Post to discredit Giuffre, saying: “Buckingham Palace would love it. You should ask someone to investigate the girl that has caused the Queen’ son all this aggro. I promise you she is a fraud. You and I will be able to go to Ascot for the rest of our lives.
Prince Andrew’s friendship with Epstein began in the late 1990s, reportedly through Ghislaine Maxwell.
It would define, and ultimately wreck, his life. After Epstein’s 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution, Andrew did not cut ties. In December 2010, he was photographed walking with Epstein in New York soon after Epstein left jail, a misjudgment that triggered calls for consequences and led to Andrew stepping down as the U.K.’s trade envoy in 2011.
Seeking to explain himself, Andrew gave his catastrophic BBC Newsnight interview in November 2019. He said he didn’t “regret” the friendship because of the people Epstein introduced him to and claimed he couldn’t sweat.
Buckingham Palace swiftly announced he would “step back from public duties.”
Citizen journalists: all the newly released documents are here.
