Former Prince Andrew of the United Kingdom was arrested Thursday on suspicion of misconduct linked to his relationship with financier Jeffrey Epstein, raising questions about accountability for Epstein’s victims in the United States. The arrest comes amid a growing international reckoning with Epstein’s network, which allegedly facilitated the trafficking of dozens of women.

Legal Proceedings in the UK

According to police, Andrew was arrested after reports indicated he may have shared confidential trade reports with Epstein in 2010, when Andrew was serving as a British government trade envoy. The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation into Andrew’s years-long friendship with Epstein, who died in 2019 under mysterious circumstances while in custody.

King Charles III, Andrew’s brother, issued a statement emphasizing the importance of the rule of law in the United Kingdom. ‘The law must take its course,’ he said, a message that highlights the gravity of the situation for the royal family.

Andrew had already been stripped of his official duties and titles several years prior. However, the arrest has drawn significant public attention, particularly after the release of a photo from the Epstein files showing Andrew on his knees over a woman. This image, along with other revelations, has fueled calls for accountability.

U.S. Response to Epstein’s Network

In the United States, the response to Epstein’s alleged crimes has been marked by professional consequences rather than legal ones. The release of millions of pages of government documents has exposed a web of connections between Epstein and influential figures in business, politics, and entertainment.

According to the New York Times, several high-profile individuals have faced professional fallout. Thomas Pritzker, heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, stepped down from his executive role. Casey Wasserman, chairman of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, is selling his talent agency. Goldman Sachs General Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler resigned after emails surfaced showing her advising Epstein on how to respond to sex crime allegations.

Larry Summers, former Harvard president and Treasury secretary under President Bill Clinton, also stepped back from public life after emails linking him to Epstein were made public. These resignations, while notable, have not translated into criminal charges or justice for the victims.

‘The list goes on,’ said one analyst, ‘but even with these professional consequences, it’s clear the U.S. system has not delivered justice for Epstein’s victims.’

Justice for Victims Remains Unmet

Epstein’s survivors have long sought accountability for the alleged trafficking and abuse they endured. The release of Epstein’s emails has revealed a vast social and professional network that enabled these crimes. Names like Epstein’s associates, prominent politicians, and business leaders are repeatedly mentioned in the documents.

Despite these revelations, the American legal system has been criticized for failing to act with urgency. Legal experts argue that the response has been more about managing reputations than delivering justice. ‘If the American legal system fails to act, it sends a grave message: There are two systems of justice—one for the connected and one for everyone else,’ said one legal analyst.

Epstein’s victims, many of whom have spoken out publicly, have been left without closure. The lack of legal action has eroded public trust in the justice system, and many feel that the powerful are above the law.

Giuffre’s family praised Andrew’s arrest, saying, ‘Today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty.’

However, this sentiment is not echoed in the United States, where Epstein’s victims continue to seek justice. The release of the Epstein files has not led to widespread legal consequences for those implicated, leaving many victims to suffer in silence.

In the UK, the BBC quoted a legal expert saying Andrew will receive no special treatment in jail, a stark contrast to the leniency Epstein received in the United States. Epstein, who had pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking in 2008, served only 13 months in federal prison before being released.

The arrest of Andrew may signal a shift in how the UK handles high-profile cases, but it remains to be seen whether the U.S. will follow suit. For now, the victims of Epstein’s network continue to wait for justice that has yet to arrive.