#Manhattan US attorney rips Prince Andrew over potential Jeffrey Epstein talks

The Manhattan US attorney ripped Prince Andrew on Monday after the royal’s lawyers claimed that their client has been offering to talk to the feds about his pedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein, to no avail.

“Today, Prince Andrew yet again sought to falsely portray himself to the public as eager and willing to cooperate with an ongoing federal criminal investigation into sex-trafficking and related offenses committed by Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, even though the Prince has not given an interview to federal authorities, has repeatedly declined our request to schedule such an interview, and nearly four months ago informed us unequivocally – through the very same counsel who issued today’s release – that he would not come in for such an interview,” US Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a blistering statement.

“If Prince Andrew is, in fact, serious about cooperating with the ongoing federal investigation, our doors remain open, and we await word of when we should expect him,” the top federal prosecutor said.

The verbal back-and-forth came a day after it was reported that US prosecutors are demanding the UK hand over the prince for questioning.

The US Department of Justice recently bypassed Buckingham Palace by filing a “mutual legal assistance” request to the UK Home Office to force the disgraced royal to testify, according to The Sun.

The move prompted the prince’s lawyers to issue a statement early Monday insisting that “the Duke of York has on at least three occasions this year offered his assistance as a witness” in the sex-trafficking case involving the late multimillionaire financier Epstein.

Epstein hanged himself in federal lockup in Manhattan in August while awaiting trial — but there are alleged co-conspirators that the feds are reportedly eyeing in the case.

Andrew has not been named as a co-conspirator, although he has been accused of sexually abusing some of Epstein’s victims — claims he has vehemently denied.

His legal representative group, Blackfords LLP, said Monday that the disgraced royal has had a “desire to provide cooperation” to help Epstein’s victims but that the feds have shown no interest in what he has to say, then publicly claimed he’s the one holding back.

“In doing so, they are perhaps seeking publicity rather than accepting the assistance proffered,” the prince’s legal team said.

“Importantly, the DOJ advised us that the Duke is not and has never been a ‘target’ of their criminal investigations into Epstein and that they sought his confidential, voluntary co-operation,” Blackfords said.