French police want to talk to Prince Andrew after Jeffrey Epstein 'facilitator' gets arrested for rape of minors
French investigators reportedly want to interview Prince Andrew as part of their probe into the Jeffrey Epstein underage sex ring. Jean Luc Brunel, a modeling agent who is suspected of organizing the "accommodation of young girls or young women on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein", was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation on Wednesday at Charles de Gaulle airport as he was preparing to take a flight to Senegal. As per a French prosecutor on December 19, Saturday, Brunel was charged with the rape of minors.
Paris Prosecutor Remy Heitz said that Brunel "is suspected of having committed acts of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment on various minor or major victims and of having, in particular, organized the transport and accommodation of young girls or young women on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein." The prosecutor said that Brunel was not handed any human trafficking charges, which was one of the main lines of inquiry. The magistrate had reportedly decided that there was not enough evidence to rule on that count, but he was not acquitted and could be charged in the future if anything new emerges. Brunel was remanded in custody.
Brunel is being investigated as part of a broad French inquiry into the alleged sexual exploitation of women and girls by Epstein and his circle. A number of women have identified themselves as alleged victims and spoken to police since the investigation began in August last year. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, now 37, claimed that she was trafficked by Epstein and pressured into having sex with Prince Andrew. Giuffre alleged she also had "sexual relations" with Brunel several times when she was aged between 16 and 19. She claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times between 1999 and 2002 — in London, New York, and on Epstein’s private Caribbean island.
The Sun quoted Giuffre saying, "Are you sweating yet, Prince Andrew? You should be. Your buddy Jean-Luc Brunel is behind bars. Remember those girls he supplied to you on the island? Well, you might want to start thinking of new allergies cuz you’re about to burn. This piggy will roll over on everyone to save his own bacon. Those who participated in this sex trafficking ring should be worried."
A source close to the investigation told The Sun: “We have issued numerous appeals for witnesses and Prince Andrew is clearly a witness to Epstein’s conduct over many years. Beyond that Andrew is said to have visited Epstein’s home in Paris and had relations with the victims Brunel is accused of abusing. Andrew’s testament is crucial and he could of course be summoned.” Lisa Bloom, the lawyer for an alleged victim of Brunel, said, “At long last, another accused Epstein enabler is being brought to justice. Prince Andrew — time to make good on your promise of cooperating with authorities, or you may be next.”
The Duke of York, 60, has vehemently denied the claims of any wrongdoing. Brunel, 74, has also denied any wrongdoing. Epstein's ex-girlfriend, the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, 58, is currently on remand, after being charged with the sex trafficking of underage girls and the enticement of minors. She has denied any wrongdoing. A French whistleblower reportedly made allegations that Andrew visited Epstein's home in Paris “on numerous occasions”.