US officials tell DOJ now is the ‘time to act’ on Epstein files investigation in wake of Andrew’s arrest in the UK

‘If a Prince can be held accountable, so can a President,’ wrote one Democrat NewsWorldAmericasUS politicsUS officials tell DOJ now is the ‘time to act’ on Epstein files investigation in wake of Andrew’s arrest in the UK‘If a Prince can be held accountable, so can a President,’ wrote one DemocratBrendan Rascius in New York Thursday 19 February 2026 20:08 GMTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoverPolice officers seen at gates of Royal Lodge as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrestedYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. 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We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreAfter the unprecedented arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor by U.K. authorities, some U.S. lawmakers have demanded greater accountability for individuals linked to Jeffrey Epstein on this side of the Atlantic.Elected officials from both parties have urged the Trump administration to follow the European nation’s lead and take stronger steps toward securing justice for Epstein’s victims.“The U.K. is not messing around,” Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a New Mexico Democrat, said. “It’s time to act.”The former prince was arrested at his residence near Windsor Castle on Thursday. Authorities suspect him of misconduct in public office for allegedly leaking confidential documents to Epstein while serving as the U.K.’s trade envoy. The allegations were uncovered in the latest cache of the so-called Epstein files released by the Department of Justice. The documents appear to include numerous references to King Charles’ brother, whose association with Epstein has long been known. They also contain photos seeming to show the disgraced prince on all fours over a woman. The 66-year-old Mountbatten-Windsor — the first senior royal in modern history to be arrested — will be held in a cell while he awaits an interview with police.The arrest comes at a time when public intrigue surrounding the Epstein files — which has endured for years — shows no signs of waning. While campaigning, President Donald Trump vowed to make the government’s records on the convicted sex offender public. Although he resisted the idea after taking office, he later signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, compelling the Department of Justice to release its documents on Epstein. Millions of files have since been published, some of which include references to high-profile individuals and sexual activity with minors. Despite this, the documents have not yet resulted in any prosecutions in the U.S.open image in galleryAfter the unprecedented arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a number of US lawmakers have demanded that the Trump administration do more to seek justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein (Getty)RecommendedAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested latest: Police search Royal Lodge as King Charles releases statementHave royal family members been arrested before? An expert explainsAndrew arrest is ‘nightmare’ for King Charles, royal expert Jennie Bond says‘It’s time to act’The stunning news of Mountbatten-Windsor’s detention, which came on his 66th birthday, sent shockwaves across the Atlantic, prompting swift reactions from a number of U.S. officials.Democrats largely led the charge in seeking further action from the Trump administration, which has thus far chosen not to pursue any prosecutions — and President Donald Trump has dismissed the entire Epstein matter as a “hoax.”“I’m glad to see someone is finally being held accountable,” Maryland Rep. Johnny Olszewski told CNN Thursday morning. “This is far too vast a network for there not to be more accountability.”He lamented the passivity of the U.S. government, saying: “We can’t even release all the files.”Attorney General Pam Bondi said in her congressional testimony last week that “all” the files had been made public. However, a recent report by Channel 4 News out of the U.K. claimed that, based on internal emails, only 2 percent of the documents have been released. open image in galleryNew Mexico Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez said the former prince's arrest illustrates a stark contrast with the actions of the US government (Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, X)New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury also applauded the decisive actio