5 hours ago
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Rachel Muller Heyndykand Chi Chi Izundu,Investigations correspondent
News Syndication
The former prince, Andrew, left, has been criticised for his association with Jeffrey Epstein
Emails suggest that the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein invited a man believed to be Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to have dinner with a 26-year-old Russian woman.
The latest batch of documents released by the US Department of Justice relating to Epstein shows emails signed "A", with a signature that appears to read "HRH Duke of York KG".
The emails were exchanged in August 2010, two years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor.
The messages are likely to put further pressure on Mountbatten-Windsor, who has faced years of scrutiny over his past friendship with Epstein.
BBC News has approached Mountbatten-Windsor for comment. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
The emails between Epstein and an account named "The Duke" on 11 and 12 August 2010 suggest that the American wanted to introduce "A" to a 26-year-old Russian woman, whom Epstein suggests he "might enjoy having dinner with".
He says that the woman would be in London in August 2010.
"The Duke" replies that he would be in Geneva "until the morning of the 22nd but would be delighted to see her" before asking: "Will she be bringing a message from you? Please give her my contact details to get in touch."
He asks Epstein whether there is "any other information you might know about her that might be useful to know?"
Epstein replies that "she [is] 26, russian, clevere beautiful, trustworthy and yes she has your email".
The late financier was convicted in 2008 of soliciting sex from a 14-year-old girl in Florida and completed his sentence in July 2010, a month before the email exchange. The BBC has not been able to independently verify those emails.
Mountbatten-Windsor has faced allegations, which he had repeatedly denied, that he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre as a teenager after she was trafficked by Epstein.
He paid millions to Ms Giuffre, who he claims to have never met, to settle a civil sexual assault claim in 2022.
Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing, and said he did not "see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his [Epstein's] arrest and conviction".
