Nearly 100 incriminating documents in the Epstein files naming Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are alleged to have been secretly redacted weeks after their release. Dozens of emails mentioning the former Duke of York which were once easily findable via a basic keyword search can now only be traced from screenshots showing their sent date, it is reported. The reportedly redacted documents include one between Epstein and a Russian woman called Irina, in which they confirm plans for her to spend an evening with Andrew in August 2010. Irina responds in the email asking if she should message the then-Prince, followed by a truncated version of his email address - 'tdoy@rlwgp...' - the first part of which stands for 'the Duke of York'.
Survivors blast retrospective redactions
While reporters could previously use 'tdoy' as a simple search term on the Epstein Files website, it now comes up with zero results when inputted. It is unknown whether these retrospective redactions are the result of a complaint from Andrew or his legal team. Epstein survivor Jess Michaels told The Sun: 'This is thwarting justice. This is a cover-up of the cover-up of the crime. I wish I could tell you that all of this is shocking, but for us it's not. It's actually predictable. We are continuing to be gaslit. It's designed to protect those responsible and intimidate survivors to stop them coming forward.'
A war for accountability
Sky Roberts, the brother of Andrew's accuser Virginia Giuffre, channelled the fury of many of Epstein's victims when he asked how it was that powerful figures have managed to keep their names blacked-out in the documents while a number of survivors have been named or pictured. Earlier this month the US Department of Justice (DOJ) was forced to remove thousands of the 3.5million documents that comprise the Epstein files from its website. The move came after lawyers representing nearly 100 victims of the financier said their clients' lives had been 'turned upside down' after their identities had been compromised due to poor redacting practices. All the files flagged were taken down, the DOJ said, blaming 'technical or human error' for the mistakes. Meanwhile the Epstein Files contain numerous instances in which the identities of people who sent concerning emails to the late financier have been redacted - many believed to be high-profile figures. Included in the emails are repeated disturbing references to girls and young women with names of redacted.
Inside the reading room
The Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), passed by Congress in November, compelled the Justice Department to release all of the records in its possession. It did require the redaction of identifying information about Epstein's victims, who numbered more than 1,000 according to the FBI . But the law said no records could be 'withheld, delayed, or redacted on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.' Members of Congress were given access to unredacted versions of the files on Monday under strict conditions, and what they saw is likely to spur further outrage. Jamie Raskin, a Democratic Party politician who represents Maryland in the House of Representatives, revealed that he saw the names of numerous people which had been 'redacted for mysterious or baffling or inscrutable reasons.' In total, more than 180,000 images and 2,000 videos - or 14 hours of footage - were included in the release, giving the public a glimpse into the sordid operation run by the serialn[expletive].
The files show how the disgraced financier solicited explicit, self-filmed content from young women as a matter of habit, with several of the clips featuring girls in a state of undress. In many, the young women are seen performing sexual acts in their bedrooms, often featuring the same large teddy bear in frame. In one video, the financier is seen forcibly exposing an unidentified woman's breasts to the camera, despite multiple attempts from her to remove his hands. Also released in the files were several pornography films the American millionaire presumably downloaded onto his personal computer, including a vintage video entitled 'Tiny Bubbles', featuring Japanese adult entertainer Azari Kumiko. Epstein also made young girls perform in semi-clothed catwalk auditions, lending evidence to the theory that the financier lured victims into his control by masquerading as a Victoria's Secret talent scout. Other disturbing clips show Epstein dancing alongside potential victims, as well as him enjoying private 'entertainment' by unclothed young females in a red-panelled study in his Paris home. Police were on Sunday night facing mounting calls to launch a full investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's role as the UK's trade envoy.
Senior political figures called for a criminal probe into fresh allegations that the disgraced royal abused his position to leak sensitive information, including to financier Jeffrey Epstein. Detectives could investigate Andrew for the offence of misconduct in public office over allegations he forwarded confidential reports while representing the Government abroad. Police chiefs are already assessing claims that a woman was sent to the UK for a sexual encounter with him at his Windsor home by his close friend Epstein. Adding to the pressure, the country's top prosecutor said on Sunday that the 65-year-old former Duke of York was not 'above the law'.
On Sunday night Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: 'The Epstein revelations are hugely damaging to public trust in our institutions. It's clear Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor abused his position as trade envoy, sharing sensitive information about the UK's interests with his friend, and convicted financier, Jeffrey Epstein. 'The police are rightfully looking into this as we need full transparency to get justice for the victims of this abhorrent abuse. That must also include a public inquiry.' Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.