Arresting Andrew

The King of England’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was taken into custody today by British police. Officially, he’s been detained under suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was questioned but has not, as of yet, been charged, and was released after about 12 hours in custody. The most recent disclosures by DOJ under the Epstein Files Transparency Act revealed business interactions between Andrew and Epstein, which seem to have led to this. The allegations apparently involve leaking confidential information to Jeffrey Epstein while Andrew was the trade envoy, which could be a violation of the Official Secrets Act.

Police also searched Andrew’s current and former residences. He lives on an estate owned by King Charles III.

The King said that the royal family supported a full investigation: “Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.”

Oh, the irony. The country with a king still subscribes to the belief that no man is above the law. Happy birthday to the former Prince Andrew, who turned 66 today.

Andrew is not the first person associated with the British government to fall under suspicion. The Epstein Class includes Peter Mandelson, the former ambassador to the U.S., who police have said is under investigation for “alleged misconduct in public office after the tranche of emails also suggested Mandelson had forwarded market-sensitive information to Epstein while in the British cabinet.” The scandal cost him his diplomatic job. He has also had to resign from the House of Lords.

We’ve forgotten what accountability for public officials looks like in the United States, or even that it’s possible. But here it is in front of us, with a former prince stripped of his royal titles and arrested by the police just like anyone else. The cult of Trump may have temporarily derailed the rule of law in the U.S., at least for its leader, but it can still be restored; indeed, the public is clamoring for that when it comes to the Epstein Files. It’s time to stop protecting rich and powerful men who rape children and others who made that possible, whoever they are. Later this month, Bill and Hillary Clinton will testify on Capitol Hill. There is no possible justification for treating Donald Trump any differently.

Let’s start demanding that.

For the people involved with Epstein who hoped to be able to ride it out, staying quietly in the shadows, relying on other powerful men to protect them, Andrew’s arrest suggests that “Time’s Up”. Those people have to be very worried about Andrew’s arrest, which puts subtle pressure on other governments to follow suit and investigate those for whom there is credible information suggesting complicity. And beyond that, what all does Andrew know? Who might he offer up in an effort to save his own skin? The Telegraph had a photo of a deeply distressed looking former prince being driven home after dark, looking as though the discovery of how he could be treated if held accountable for his role had been deeply unpleasant. He could face up to life in prison depending on the type of charges brought. Understanding that can be the kind of revelation for a criminal defendant that causes them, for the first time, to tell law enforcement the truth.

Accountability for the Epstein survivors has been unnecessarily slow in coming because the people who harmed them have been protected for so long. Finally, that seems to be changing.

We’re in this together,

Joyce