THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Duke of York has defended himself against a series of allegations that have raised fresh questions about his suitability as a trade envoy.Calls have grown for the Duke to step down or be removed from his post as Britain’s special representative for trade and industry following criticism of his relationships with several business contacts.
At the weekend, a photograph was published showing the Duke with his arm around the waist of Virginia Roberts, who claims she was sexually exploited as a teenager by Jeffrey Epstein, a New York financier and one of the Duke’s wealthy friends.
The Duke has been pictured in Central Park with Epstein, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 for soliciting an under-age girl for prostitution.
Miss Roberts, 27, claims she was hired as a masseuse by Epstein at 17 and was once asked to sit on the Duke’s knee. She was photographed with the Duke in 2001 and claims she met him three times, though there is no suggestion that there was a sexual relationship between the pair.
The Duke has also faced claims that he has a “very close” friendship with Saif Gaddafi, the son of the Libyan leader.
On Monday, Chris Bryant, the shadow justice minister, urged David Cameron to consider the Duke’s position in light of his relationship with Saif, whose diplomatic immunity has been revoked by Britain.
He also questioned the Duke’s friendship with Tarek Kaituni, a convicted Libyan gun smuggler.
It has been alleged, and subsequently denied, that the Duke has visited Saif Gaddafi in Libya in a personal capacity on several occasions, sometimes as a guest of Kaituni. >>> Victoria Ward | Wednesday, March 02, 2011
