Per NBC News and others, federal prosecutors in New York have made a formal request via the British government to speak to Prince Andrew as part of the criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's history of sexual abuse.
The request was reportedly made under a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, or MLAT. NBC News describes the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty as being similar to a subpoena for Prince Andrew's testimony.
Watch Prince Andrew discuss allegations made against him in this BBC interview:It's thought to be a rare move to seek an interview of this nature through a MLAT - officials say it's centered around ensuring that the investigation is as thorough as possible.
In January, The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey Berman, encouraged Prince Andrew's cooperation in the investigation. He said;
"The Southern District of New York and the FBI have contacted Prince Andrew's attorneys and requested to interview Prince Andrew, and to date Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation,"
Prince Andrew had previously stated, "I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations."
However, Per NBC News, in March, Berman hinted at the possibility of a formal request;
"Contrary to Prince Andrew's very public offer to cooperate with our investigation into Epstein's co-conspirators, an offer that was conveyed via press release, Prince Andrew has now completely shut the door on voluntary cooperation,"
He said his office was "considering its options."
A statement since issued by Prince Andrew's legal team described the development as "disappointing". Per Sky News it reads as follows;
"Unfortunately, the DOJ has reacted to the first two offers by breaching their own confidentiality rules and claiming that
the Duke has offered zero cooperation.
"In doing so, they are perhaps seeking publicity rather than accepting the assistance.
"We were given an unequivocal assurance that our discussions and the interview process would remain confidential."
In an interview with the BBC last year that was widely considered disastrous, Prince Andrew denied allegations made against him. The interview was described at the time by a former Buckingham Palace press officer as "not so much a car crash but an articulated lorry crash.” Per NBC News, Virginia Roberts Giuffre says she was trafficked by Epstein and directed to have sexual relations with Prince Andrew.
