Jeffrey Epstein survivors back Thames Valley police to investigate Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after they admitted using unlawful warrants to search his home

Jeffrey Epstein survivors have backed the Thames Valley Police investigation into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for misconduct in public office after the force admitted using unlawful warrants to search his home. The former Duke of York is locked in a High Court battle over whether evidence obtained during raids of two of his properties can be used in the criminal investigation into him after police acknowledged the search warrants used were unlawful.But a group of Epstein survivors have backed Thames Valley Police, and said they look forward to coming to the UK and meeting Andy Burnham.The victims said the force must be free to follow evidence 'without fear or favour'. 'For decades, powerful people have hidden behind wealth, influence, silence, and delay,' the group said.'While they protected themselves, survivors carried the trauma alone. We were expected to stay quiet, to move on, and to accept that justice would never come. We refuse.'We express our profound gratitude to Thames Valley Police for their outstanding work in the United Kingdom and internationally, and for their commitment to pursuing justice.'We stand firmly with them. Police must be free to follow the evidence without fear or favour. An undated handout photo showing Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell posing together Melania Trump, Prince Andrew, Gwendolyn Beck and Jeffrey Epstein at a party at the Mar-a-Lago club in February 2000'It must not matter who someone is, how powerful they are, or whom they know. No one is above the law.'Signatories include women from the Survivor Sisters group, which Virginia Giuffre was a part of.The names of alleged survivors who signed the letter are: Lara Blume McGee; Marijke Chartouni; Chauntae Davies; Annie Farmer; Lisa Phillips; Teresa J. Helm; Sharlene Rochard; Rachel Benavidez; Joanna Harrison; Marina Lacerda; Wendy Pesante; Jena-Lisa Jones; Ashley Rubright; and Andrea Sterling. Five other victims also signed the letter anonymously under the name 'Jane Doe'. The signatories include US and Canadian women as well as a Colombian woman. Lara Blume McGee, whose name is first to appear on the letter, alleges that at 20 years old she was groomed by Ghislaine Maxwell after they met at New York Fashion Week in 2000. She claims Maxwell used her connections to the modelling industry to lure her to Epstein's orbit before he abused her. Marijke Chartouni, who also signed the letter, was also 20 when she alleges that she was undressed and assaulted by Epstein after a friend introduced her to the paedophile financier and took her to his mansion. Lara Blume McGee, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, during a press conference in the Capitol Building on July 15 Left to right:, Sarah Ransome, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, and Marijke Chartouni find support in each other after having met at a court hearing for victims of Epstein on August 27, 2019 Chauntae Davies is pictured sitting at a table with Jeffrey Epstein Chauntae Davies claims she was raped by Epstein on his private island after she was hired to give him massages. The group quoted a line from a statement issued by the King following Andrew's arrest in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office.Charles said: 'Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.'Andrew has denied any wrongdoing over his links to Epstein.At the High Court on Thursday, Mr Justice Hilliard said that while Andrew and Thames Valley Police had reached an 'agreement' that search warrants for his properties were unlawful, police have since launched a bid to retain evidence gathered during the searches in February.He said Andrew opposes the bid to retain the evidence, with a hearing in the case to be held in private in 2027.It means that the former prince could remain in limbo for several more months before learning if he will be charged with an offence.The warrants, issued by a judge at the Old Bailey on February 18, allowed police to raid Andrew's residence on the Sandringham Estate and his former Windsor home, Royal Lodge, in February.He was then arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on February 19, his 66th birthday, following allegations he shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein during his time as the UK's trade envoy.Andrew was interviewed under caution before being released under investigation, and denies wrongdoing, with the police probe ongoing.