Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor challenges validity of search warrants in his Epstein-related arrest
Britain's Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Jeffrey Epstein, and said he regrets their friendship. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/The Associated Press)Social SharingAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor is taking the police to court to challenge his February arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he sent confidential government documents to Jeffrey Epstein.
Britain's Judicial Office, part of the non-political civil service which supports the courts, said a hearing would take place on Thursday after the former prince sought to quash the search warrants that were issued as part of the arrest.
Thames Valley Police, which carried out the arrest, confirmed it was engaged in legal proceedings and declined further comment.
Andrew, 66, was arrested in February on suspicion of leaking government documents to Epstein when the former royal was a special representative for trade between 2001 and 2011.
The second son of the late Queen Elizabeth and younger brother of King Charles has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and said he regrets their friendship.
Andrew was questioned all day by detectives, and a Reuters photograph, which captured the former prince as he left the police station, showed him looking in a state of shock.
The Judicial Office said the hearing on Thursday regarded an effort by the police to restrict access to court documents. The hearing will begin in private.
News of the legal challenge was first reported by the Daily Telegraph.
Andrew's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
He was forced to quit all official royal duties in 2019 over his ties with disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Epstein, and was then stripped of his titles and honours last October by his older brother after further revelations about their relationship.
Andrew was accused by Virginia Roberts Giuffre of sexual assault when she was 17 and employed by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, whose London residence was the site of a now-famous photograph of Andrew and Roberts Giuffre standing together. Andrew denied her allegations but reached a financial settlement with Roberts Giuffre after she filed a civil lawsuit.
Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 in what was ruled a suicide.
Maxwell was convicted of federal sex trafficking charges in New York and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022.
Roberts Giuffre died at her Australian residence last year in a death that was ruled a suicide.
A U.S. congressional committee since last year has interviewed several prominent individuals, including former president Bill Clinton, who in the past had dealings with Epstein or Maxwell. While some members of the committee expressed a desire to speak to Andrew, the committee has no legal authority to compel him to appear before the panel.
