The Ministry of Defence has launched an investigation into whether Jeffrey Epstein used RAF bases for flights on his jet into and out of the UK. The investigation comes after former Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent a five-page dossier to six police forces asking them to investigate whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had used the bases to meet the late paedophile financier.
An MOD source said it would “ruthlessly pursue any information that can shed light on this scandal,” reports BBC. Defence Secretary John Healey is since said to have personally ordered a review of any records held by the MOD, with recently released flight log data from the Epstein Files showing he made a total of 90 flights to and from British airports between the early 1990s and 2018.
An MOD spokesperson said: “The defence secretary has ordered a review of all records that the department may hold relating to Epstein flights landing at RAF bases to ensure that any information which relates to Epstein’s crimes is uncovered and provided to the relevant authorities.
“The MOD will support any civilian police investigations. Our thoughts are with all the victims of Epstein’s vile crimes.”
An MOD spokesman previously said it was “standard practice” for private or commercial aircraft to use RAF airfields in exchange for a fee that covers all costs.
Essex Police have also confirmed they are assessing allegations that victims of Jeffrey Epstein were flown into the private terminal at London Stansted Airport.
Of the 90 flights detailed in the logs, approximately 15 are believed to have taken place after the disgraced financier was jailed for child sex offences in 2008, reports The Mirror.
The aircraft, operating under the registration N908JE, is known to have been used to transport women and girls between Epstein’s luxury properties in New York, Palm Beach, and the US Virgin Islands.
Flight records show the jet also made repeated trips to the UK, including to smaller airfields located near royal residences in England and Scotland.
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On Wednesday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said flight logs from UK airports and RAF airports could not be released until active police investigations surrounding the sex trafficker have concluded.
Responding to Lib Dem leader Ed Davey at Prime Minister’s Questions, he said: “I think it’s important to appreciate there’s obviously a police investigation going on.
“And I think it’s right, and I’m sure he agrees with this, that that has to go wherever the evidence takes it, and we have to let that investigation run its course before deciding what next action needs to be taken.”
Andrew and former US ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson were both arrested and released on bail earlier this month over their alleged links with Epstein.
The former duke has expressed regret over his friendship with the disgraced financier but has always denied any wrongdoing.
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