Ex-Prince Andrew's arrest spurs Epstein accountability calls from UK to US

US lawmakers call on the Trump administration to pursue justice for victims, as UN expert urges probes across the world

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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was arrested and released on Thursday. Pic courtesy The Guardian

(The Guardian)

The arrest of former British royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has sparked renewed calls for accountability for Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes and proper investigations into the late sex offender’s networks in the United States and across the world.

Police in the United Kingdom detained the ex-prince, brother of King Charles, on Thursday, with authorities saying that they had opened an investigation into possible misconduct in public office without naming Mountbatten-Windsor.

Reem Alsalem, the United Nations special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, said the arrest sends “an important message that nobody is above the law, irrespective of your wealth, your connections — even if you're royalty”.

“At the same time, it’s important that we examine the involvement of anyone that has enabled, facilitated, the crimes committed by the Epstein criminal enterprise,” Alsalem told Al Jazeera.

She stressed the need for independent investigations into individuals and institutions who may have been involved in Epstein’s crimes.

Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest came weeks after the latest release of US government documents related to the sex abuse case, which showed deep ties between the former duke of York and Epstein.

Some exchanges suggested that Mountbatten-Windsor, who previously served as the UK’s trade envoy, shared government information with Epstein.

The former royal was released later on Thursday.

Millions of files related to Epstein have been released by the US government over the past two months after Congress passed a law compelling the administration of President Donald Trump to make the documents public.