A King's Brother Arrested: The Epstein Files Claim Their Most High-Profile Target Yet
On his 66th birthday, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor - formerly known as Prince Andrew, second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II and brother of King Charles III - was arrested by Thames Valley Police in England on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was held for 11 hours before being released under investigation, meaning he has been neither charged nor exonerated. Police simultaneously searched two properties, in Berkshire and Norfolk.
It is the first arrest of a senior British royal in nearly 400 years.
The arrest stems directly from the latest tranche of Jeffrey Epstein files released by the U.S. Justice Department, which appear to show that Mountbatten-Windsor forwarded confidential government trade reports to Epstein while serving as the UK's international trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. Emails from a sender labeled "The Duke" forwarded overseas mission briefings to Epstein's account. One was described as a "confidential brief." The arrest is not directly connected to the sexual abuse allegations made by the late Virginia Giuffre - police say they are still separately assessing those claims.
King Charles, in a public statement, said he had learned of his brother's arrest "with the deepest concern" and declared plainly: "The law must take its course." William and Kate released a statement of full support for the King. Trump, asked about the arrest, called it "a shame" and "so bad for the royal family" - while also noting he had been "totally exonerated" by the Epstein files, a claim the files do not actually support.
Virginia Giuffre's siblings, whose sister died by suicide last year at 41, released a statement: "He was never a prince. For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you."
The Epstein files continue to reverberate. This is nowhere near over.
Quick Hits
- — Hong Kong media figure and pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for violating Hong Kong's national security law, following a two-year trial. Lai, whose Apple Daily newspaper was shut down by authorities in 2021, has been a symbol of press freedom internationally. [Source]
- — HUD proposed a rule this week that would ban undocumented immigrants from federally subsidized housing - including members of families where other members are legal residents or U.S. citizens. Researchers estimate nearly 80,000 people could face eviction, many of them U.S. citizen children. [Source]
- — DHS is reportedly launching a nationwide campaign to investigate and prosecute naturalized U.S. citizens for alleged voter fraud - a move civil liberties advocates say is designed to intimidate immigrant communities and challenge citizenship itself as a permanent legal status. [Source]
- — The U.S. deployed 200 soldiers to Nigeria to train its military and provide logistical support against Boko Haram and other extremist groups, a quiet but significant expansion of U.S. military footprint on the African continent that has received little coverage domestically. [Source]
What to Watch Today
Iran Decision Window – This Weekend: U.S. military officials told Trump forces could be ready to strike Iran as early as today or tomorrow. That window is now open. Iran, Russia, and China have forces in the Strait of Hormuz simultaneously. The USS Gerald Ford is roughly a week out. Watch any White House statements today for signals on whether diplomacy is being extended or closed out. Any movement of the Ford toward the region faster than expected would be a significant tell.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Under Investigation: Police searched multiple properties in Berkshire and Norfolk and are expected to present their findings as the investigation progresses. He has not been charged. Watch for whether prosecutors move to formally charge him, and whether the U.S. Congress – which VP Vance said he’d be “open” to having testify – makes any formal moves on that front.
Ukraine 4th Anniversary (Saturday): Expect major statements from Zelensky, European leaders, and NATO. Watch whether Trump says anything – and if so, what tone he takes. Silence or a soft statement would be noted by U.S. allies.
ICE Illegal Detention Fallout: With 4,400+ court rulings now documented and a Reuters investigation making the pattern public record, watch for whether any congressional Democrats push for formal contempt proceedings or emergency legislation. The 5th Circuit is currently set to take up the issue in coming weeks – that ruling could either entrench or constrain the administration’s position.
- 8:30 AM ET: No major economic data releases scheduled today.
By The Numbers
The number of federal court rulings since October finding that ICE illegally detained immigrants, issued by more than 400 judges across the country. ICE has continued detaining people in many of these cases anyway.
People currently held in ICE detention, a 75 percent increase from when Trump took office. The administration's goal is 1 million arrests per year, which means targeting people with no criminal records to meet the numbers.
The approximate length of time since a senior British royal was last arrested, until Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was taken into custody Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office tied to the Jeffrey Epstein files.
The share of the world's daily oil supply that transits the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran, Russia, and China are now conducting joint naval exercises as U.S. forces approach the region. There is no alternative shipping route.
The number of years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as of this Sunday, February 22. Hundreds of thousands dead. Millions displaced. Peace talks collapsed this week.
Quote of the Day
"He was never a prince. For survivors everywhere, Virginia did this for you."
-- Statement from Virginia Giuffre's siblings, released Thursday following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Giuffre, the most prominent Epstein survivor and outspoken advocate for accountability, died by suicide last year at 41.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-prince-andrew-arrested-epstein-files-suspected-misconduct-public-office/
Bottom Line
This morning three separate threads converge into one picture: a government that routinely defies court orders when it comes to immigration detention, a possible war with Iran being decided without Congress while Russia and China position their own naval forces in the conflict zone, and the Epstein files continuing to shake powerful institutions worldwide - including one of the oldest royal families on earth. These aren't unrelated stories. They're all versions of the same question: who is actually accountable, and to whom? The answer, right now, appears to be: fewer people than you'd expect, and to fewer institutions than the law requires. That's exactly the gap investigative journalism exists to document.