Documents connected to investigations into Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking network reveal that the U.S. Department of Justice once sought testimony from Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, as a material witness. The request, made in April 2020, was part of a broader effort by American authorities to gather information related to multiple investigations involving Epstein’s associates and other figures connected to alleged sex trafficking operations. The move highlighted the continuing international dimension of the investigations that followed Epstein’s 2019 arrest and death while awaiting trial on federal charges.

According to records from the investigation, the Department of Justice formally asked the United Kingdom for legal assistance in securing cooperation from Prince Andrew. The request was made through official channels and sought to obtain testimony and potentially additional records that investigators believed could help clarify details about Epstein’s network and the individuals connected to it. At the time, authorities were examining numerous relationships involving Epstein and people who had visited or maintained contact with him over the years.

Investigators were particularly interested in Prince Andrew’s known association with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite who was later convicted in the United States for her role in recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein. Prosecutors believed that individuals who had spent time within Epstein’s social circle might possess information about events, travel arrangements, and interactions that took place at several properties linked to the case. Those locations included Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as his ranch in New Mexico.

In addition to the Epstein investigation, documents also indicated that authorities were exploring possible connections to a separate case involving Canadian fashion executive Peter Nygard. Nygard has faced numerous allegations and legal proceedings related to sex trafficking and abuse claims. Investigators were reportedly examining whether individuals connected to Epstein’s network had also interacted with Nygard or visited locations tied to his operations, including properties in the Bahamas.

The Department of Justice reportedly sought a recorded interview with Prince Andrew and indicated that investigators could pursue a compelled interview under oath if voluntary cooperation was declined. The request reflected the seriousness with which U.S. authorities were attempting to gather testimony from individuals who might have witnessed events connected to the investigations. As part of the request, officials also asked for the production of documents and communications that could shed light on interactions between Prince Andrew and Epstein’s associates.

Authorities were particularly interested in potential records such as emails, text messages, and calendar entries that might show meetings or travel involving Epstein and Maxwell. Investigators also requested travel logs and documentation related to visits to several properties linked to the investigations, including Little St. James Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Epstein’s Zorro Ranch in New Mexico. Records associated with Nygard’s Bahamas estate, known as Nygard Cay, were also reportedly part of the broader document request.

The developments underscored the wide scope of the investigations that followed Epstein’s arrest, as authorities worked to examine the network of individuals connected to him over several decades. While Epstein’s death ended the possibility of a criminal trial against him, the legal proceedings against associates and the continuing release of documents have continued to raise questions about who else may have had knowledge of or involvement in the activities that investigators have spent years attempting to unravel.