Brown urges police probe into whether Andrew used RAF bases to meet Epstein
BBC World
February 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Gordon Brown, the former UK prime minister, has called for a police investigation into whether Prince Andrew used RAF bases and taxpayer-funded jets during his time as the UK's trade envoy to facilitate meetings with Jeffrey Epstein. The Sunday Telegraph reported that Brown sent letters to six police forces urging an inquiry into whether civil servants were complicit in allowing Epstein access to military facilities. This demand comes amid growing scrutiny of Andrew's alleged connections to Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges.
Brown highlighted specific instances where RAF bases might have been used by Epstein, citing correspondence between Epstein and his former partner Ghislaine Maxwell. In one exchange, Epstein acknowledged that Larry, his chief pilot, had helped arrange such access after his conviction in Florida in 2008. Brown also pointed to Andrew's role as trade envoy from 2001 to 2011, overlapping with Brown's tenure in office, and raised concerns about potential misuse of public funds.
The Ministry of Defence clarified that RAF bases occasionally host private or commercial flights under specific conditions, but emphasized that such usage is tightly regulated. However, the allegations have sparked fresh legal action, with Andrew being arrested in October 2025 on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released after 11 hours and has yet to respond to the BBC's inquiries regarding his alleged ties to Epstein.
The broader implications of this investigation extend beyond Andrew's personal conduct, raising questions about accountability within the British government and military. Readers interested in global news will find this story relevant due to its focus on high-level misconduct, potential misuse of public resources, and the ongoing legal fallout from Epstein's案件。
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/22/2026