The Former Prince Andrew's Epstein Files Arrest Is the Most Shocking Yet. It's Clear What's Coming.

"Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has not been having a very happy birthday. At 8 a.m. local time today, police officers arrived at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where he has been laying low after being ousted from Royal Lodge and stripped of his prince title late last year, to arrest him. This is-as so many things that have happened to the once-prince Andrew in recent years are-unprecedented."

"The arrest comes after a fortnight or so of increased noise across U.K. politics about what consequences Andrew ought to face in relation to the millions of new Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice in late January. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, for instance, wrote an op-ed for the New Statesman magazine urging police to interview Andrew in relation to the alleged trafficking of girls by Jeffrey Epstein through London's Stansted Airport."

"And now, somewhat surprisingly, given how few people have been arrested in connection with the Epstein files, Andrew has in fact been taken into custody. Not for anything to do with sex trafficking, nor any of the many other sexual misconduct allegations that have been levied against Andrew, but on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The official definition of this crime is "serious wilful abuse or neglect of the power or responsibilities of the public office held," according to the Crown Prosecution Service"

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested at Sandringham Estate after being ousted from Royal Lodge and stripped of his prince title late last year. The arrest followed renewed focus on millions of Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice and public calls for police interviews, including from former prime minister Gordon Brown. Police held Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office, alleging he sent confidential trade reports to Jeffrey Epstein in 2010 while serving as Britain's special envoy for international trade. The Crown Prosecution Service defines the offence as serious wilful abuse or neglect of public office powers or responsibilities.

Read at Slate Magazine