British Prime Minister Boris Johnson refused on Monday to get dragged into a scandal surrounding Prince Andrew, who has faced a backlash after an interview in which he denied having sex with a teenage girl and spoke of his relationship with US financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew, Queen Elizabeth's second son, said in the interview aired on Saturday that he could not have had sex with a teenage girl at a socialite's London home because he returned to his house after a children's party on the night in question and has no recollection of ever meeting her.

Andrew's comments to the BBC drew scorn in the British media, which said his explanations were unsatisfactory while lawyers for Epstein's victims said the prince showed little sympathy for those abused.

Asked whether he shared "the nation's incredulity" about Andrew's account of his behaviour and what he would advise the queen to do, Johnson said: "I won't get dragged into commentary about matters concerning the royal family."

Earlier, Johnson was asked by a reporter whether he would encourage Andrew to cooperate with US authorities over Epstein's actions. Johnson replied: "Nice try."

In the interview, Andrew was at times rambling and contradictory.

He said Epstein's behaviour had been "unbecoming", but he did not regret their friendship because of the opportunities it gave him to meet business people. Epstein killed himself in August while being held on sex-trafficking charges.

One of Epstein's accusers, Virginia Giuffre, has said she was forced to have sex with Andrew in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island between 1999 and 2002, when she says Epstein kept her as a "sex slave".

During the hour-long interview, Andrew gave various reasons why her account of meeting him sweating and dancing almost two decades ago at a London nightclub before having sex with him could not be true.

These included that he suffered from a medical condition that stopped him perspiring, that he "never really partied" and he avoided "public displays of affection".

Yet British media published pictures of Andrew at a host of parties in the company of different women, some showing him displaying affection and clearly perspiring.

Two days after it aired, the interview was still front-page news for British newspapers, which described it as a "car crash" that raised questions about Andrew's future.

"Prince Andrew has brought shame on the UK and continues to disgrace himself as he shows no remorse or insight into what he has done," said Graham Smith, head of the anti-monarchist group Republic.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson refused on Monday to get dragged into a scandal surrounding Prince Andrew, who has faced a backlash after an interview in which he denied having sex with a teenage girl and spoke of his relationship with US financier Jeffrey Epstein.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson refused on Monday to get dragged into a scandal surrounding Prince Andrew, who has faced a backlash after an interview in which he denied having sex with a teenage girl and spoke of his relationship with US financier Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew, Queen Elizabeth's second son, said in the interview aired on Saturday that he could not have had sex with a teenage girl at a socialite's London home because he returned to his house after a children's party on the night in question and has no recollection of ever meeting her. Andrew's comments to the BBC drew scorn in the British media, which said his explanations were unsatisfactory while lawyers for Epstein's victims said the prince showed little sympathy for those abused. Asked whether he shared "the nation's incredulity" about Andrew's account of his behaviour and what he would advise the queen to do, Johnson said: "I won't get dragged into commentary about matters concerning the royal family." Earlier, Johnson was asked by a reporter whether he would encourage Andrew to cooperate with US authorities over Epstein's actions. Johnson replied: "Nice try." In the interview, Andrew was at times rambling and contradictory. He said Epstein's behaviour had been "unbecoming", but he did not regret their friendship because of the opportunities it gave him to meet business people. Epstein killed himself in August while being held on sex-trafficking charges. One of Epstein's accusers, Virginia Giuffre, has said she was forced to have sex with Andrew in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island between 1999 and 2002, when she says Epstein kept her as a "sex slave". During the hour-long interview, Andrew gave various reasons why her account of meeting him sweating and dancing almost two decades ago at a London nightclub before having sex with him could not be true. These included that he suffered from a medical condition that stopped him perspiring, that he "never really partied" and he avoided "public displays of affection". Yet British media published pictures of Andrew at a host of parties in the company of different women, some showing him displaying affection and clearly perspiring. Two days after it aired, the interview was still front-page news for British newspapers, which described it as a "car crash" that raised questions about Andrew's future. "Prince Andrew has brought shame on the UK and continues to disgrace himself as he shows no remorse or insight into what he has done," said Graham Smith, head of the anti-monarchist group Republic.

British PM Boris Johnson steers clear of Prince Andrew scandal

Britain's Prince Andrew has said he does not remember meeting Virginia Roberts, one of disgraced US financier <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/harvard-university-says-it-accepted-gifts-from-epstein-before-2008-sex-crime-conviction-249528">Jeffrey Epstein</a>'s alleged victims, who claims she was forced to have sex with the royal.

But Andrew admitted in an interview with the BBC due to be broadcast on Saturday that his decision to remain friends with Epstein after he was convicted of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/jeffrey-epstein-accusers-detail-sexual-abuse-claims-in-emotional-court-hearing-246133">soliciting prostitution from a minor</a> was a serious error of judgement.

"I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever," Andrew told BBC interviewer Emily Maitlis, according to extracts from "Prince Andrew and the Epstein Scandal" released ahead of the programme airing.

Andrew, 59, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II and eighth in line to the throne, has been heavily criticised over his links to multimillionaire Epstein, who died in custody in the US in August.

A photograph apparently showing Andrew with his arm around then 17-year-old Roberts, now Giuffre, and with Epstein's friend Ghislaine Maxwell standing in the background, has been widely published. Supporters of Andrew, however, have disputed its authenticity.

Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring a girl under the age of 18 for prostitution and served 13 months in a US prison before being released on probation.&nbsp;

He was arrested in July on new federal charges that he trafficked girls as young as 14 for sex, but was found dead in New York's high-security Metropolitan Correctional Center on August 10 as he awaited trial.

A coroner ruled that he committed suicide by hanging.

'The wrong thing to do'

The BBC interview is the first time Andrew has answered questions on his relationship with Epstein. In 2015, he used a public appearance at Davos in Switzerland to deny the claims.

Pressed over the fact that he remained friends with the disgraced financier after his conviction, even staying at his Manhattan townhouse, Andrew said he regretted the decision.

"It was a convenient place to stay," the prince added.

"I have gone through this in my mind so many times. At the end of the day, with the benefit of all the hindsight one can have, it was definitely the wrong thing to do.

"But at the time I felt it was the honourable and right thing to do."

Andrew went on to concede it was "not something that was becoming of a member of the royal family".&nbsp;

"We try and uphold the highest standards and practices and I let the side down, simple as that," he told Maitlis of the BBC's Newsnight programme.

'Sex slave' claim

Over the years Epstein, 66, hobnobbed with politicians, socialites and celebrities, including Donald Trump before he was president, and Bill Clinton.

After his death Giuffre, who says she was abused by Epstein for years and farmed out to his wealthy friends including Andrew, said "the reckoning must not end, it must continue".

She has alleged she was forced to have sex with the prince three times, an allegation he has strongly denied.

"He knows exactly what he's done and I hope he comes clean about it," she told reporters after a US hearing on August 27 at which other alleged Epstein victims also described how they were abused.

Giuffre previously testified that she was forced to have sex with Andrew in London in 2001 when she was 17. She said she had sex with him again in New York and on Epstein's private island in the Caribbean.

But the allegations were struck from the record by a US judge in 2015, who said the "lurid details" were not needed to decide a civil case concerning Epstein.

She has filed a lawsuit in the US accusing Epstein of using her as a "sex slave".

'Real gentleman'

Buckingham Palace has strenuously denied the claims, calling them "false and without foundation".

In August, it issued a statement after a video emerged purporting to show Andrew at Epstein's New York home in 2010 waving goodbye to a woman leaving the property.

"His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent," the statement said.

Sarah Ferguson, Andrew's ex-wife and the mother of his two daughters, also defended the embattled royal ahead of Saturday's interview broadcast.

"Andrew is a true (and) real gentleman and is stoically steadfast to not only his duty but also his kindness," she wrote on Twitter.

Britain's Prince Andrew has said he does not remember meeting Virginia Roberts, one of disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein's alleged victims, who claims she was forced to have sex with the royal.

Britain's Prince Andrew has said he does not remember meeting Virginia Roberts, one of disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein's alleged victims, who claims she was forced to have sex with the royal. But Andrew admitted in an interview with the BBC due to be broadcast on Saturday that his decision to remain friends with Epstein after he was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor was a serious error of judgement. "I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever," Andrew told BBC interviewer Emily Maitlis, according to extracts from "Prince Andrew and the Epstein Scandal" released ahead of the programme airing. Andrew, 59, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II and eighth in line to the throne, has been heavily criticised over his links to multimillionaire Epstein, who died in custody in the US in August. A photograph apparently showing Andrew with his arm around then 17-year-old Roberts, now Giuffre, and with Epstein's friend Ghislaine Maxwell standing in the background, has been widely published. Supporters of Andrew, however, have disputed its authenticity. Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring a girl under the age of 18 for prostitution and served 13 months in a US prison before being released on probation. He was arrested in July on new federal charges that he trafficked girls as young as 14 for sex, but was found dead in New York's high-security Metropolitan Correctional Center on August 10 as he awaited trial. A coroner ruled that he committed suicide by hanging. 'The wrong thing to do' The BBC interview is the first time Andrew has answered questions on his relationship with Epstein. In 2015, he used a public appearance at Davos in Switzerland to deny the claims. Pressed over the fact that he remained friends with the disgraced financier after his conviction, even staying at his Manhattan townhouse, Andrew said he regretted the decision. "It was a convenient place to stay," the prince added. "I have gone through this in my mind so many times. At the end of the day, with the benefit of all the hindsight one can have, it was definitely the wrong thing to do. "But at the time I felt it was the honourable and right thing to do." Andrew went on to concede it was "not something that was becoming of a member of the royal family". "We try and uphold the highest standards and practices and I let the side down, simple as that," he told Maitlis of the BBC's Newsnight programme. 'Sex slave' claim Over the years Epstein, 66, hobnobbed with politicians, socialites and celebrities, including Donald Trump before he was president, and Bill Clinton. After his death Giuffre, who says she was abused by Epstein for years and farmed out to his wealthy friends including Andrew, said "the reckoning must not end, it must continue". She has alleged she was forced to have sex with the prince three times, an allegation he has strongly denied. "He knows exactly what he's done and I hope he comes clean about it," she told reporters after a US hearing on August 27 at which other alleged Epstein victims also described how they were abused. Giuffre previously testified that she was forced to have sex with Andrew in London in 2001 when she was 17. She said she had sex with him again in New York and on Epstein's private island in the Caribbean. But the allegations were struck from the record by a US judge in 2015, who said the "lurid details" were not needed to decide a civil case concerning Epstein. She has filed a lawsuit in the US accusing Epstein of using her as a "sex slave". 'Real gentleman' Buckingham Palace has strenuously denied the claims, calling them "false and without foundation". In August, it issued a statement after a video emerged purporting to show Andrew at Epstein's New York home in 2010 waving goodbye to a woman leaving the property. "His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent," the statement said. Sarah Ferguson, Andrew's ex-wife and the mother of his two daughters, also defended the embattled royal ahead of Saturday's interview broadcast. "Andrew is a true (and) real gentleman and is stoically steadfast to not only his duty but also his kindness," she wrote on Twitter.

Britain's Prince Andrew, says 'no recollection' of meeting Jeffery Epstein sex accuser

Britain's Prince Andrew insisted on Saturday that "at no stage" during his friendship with convicted paedophile <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jeffrey-epstein-wrote-will-two-days-before-death-puts-578-million-in-assets-into-trust-with-unnamed-beneficiaries-report-244262">Jeffrey Epstein</a> did he "witness... any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest".

The prince, Queen Elizabeth II's second son, is under heavy fire over his relationship with the disgraced US financier, and admitted in a statement on Saturday that "it was a mistake and an error to see him after his release in 2010".

"At no stage during the limited time I spent with him did I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/psychologist-approved-jeffreys-epsteins-removal-from-suicide-watch-245240">Epstein</a> was found dead in his cell earlier this month, and the prince was once more drawn into the story after a video was released purporting to show him at the criminal's home in 2010.

Epstein had pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring for prostitution a girl under the age of 18 and served 13 months in prison before being released on probation.

"I was mistaken to think that what I thought I knew of him was evidently not the real person, given what we now know," said Andrew.

"This is a difficult time for everyone involved and I am at a loss to be able to understand or explain Mr Epstein's lifestyle," he added.

The video was the latest in a string of revelations about Prince Andrew's friendship with Epstein in British tabloids.

The Mail on Monday said the prince had hosted Epstein at Balmoral, Queen Elizabeth II's home in Scotland, in 1999 at a time when the monarch may have been in residence.

He also reportedly hosted Epstein at Sandringham, another royal residence in eastern England, a year later.

Epstein died in a federal jail in Manhattan on August 10 as he awaited trial charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors.

A coroner ruled that he committed suicide by hanging.

Over the years, the financier hobnobbed with politicians, socialites and celebrities, including Donald Trump before he was president, and Bill Clinton.

Virginia Giuffre -- previously Virginia Roberts -- one of Epstein's alleged victims, has testified that she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew in London when she was 17. She said she had sex with him again in New York and on Epstein's private island in the Caribbean.

But the allegations were struck from the record by a US judge in 2015, who said the "lurid details" were not needed to decide a civil case concerning Epstein.

Buckingham Palace has repeatedly and strenuously denied the claims, calling them "false and without foundation".

The prince said he deplored "the exploitation of any human being and would not condone, participate in, or encourage any such behaviour."

Britain's Prince Andrew insisted on Saturday that "at no stage" during his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein did he "witness... any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest".

Britain's Prince Andrew insisted on Saturday that "at no stage" during his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein did he "witness... any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest". The prince, Queen Elizabeth II's second son, is under heavy fire over his relationship with the disgraced US financier, and admitted in a statement on Saturday that "it was a mistake and an error to see him after his release in 2010". "At no stage during the limited time I spent with him did I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction." Epstein was found dead in his cell earlier this month, and the prince was once more drawn into the story after a video was released purporting to show him at the criminal's home in 2010. Epstein had pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring for prostitution a girl under the age of 18 and served 13 months in prison before being released on probation. "I was mistaken to think that what I thought I knew of him was evidently not the real person, given what we now know," said Andrew. "This is a difficult time for everyone involved and I am at a loss to be able to understand or explain Mr Epstein's lifestyle," he added. The video was the latest in a string of revelations about Prince Andrew's friendship with Epstein in British tabloids. The Mail on Monday said the prince had hosted Epstein at Balmoral, Queen Elizabeth II's home in Scotland, in 1999 at a time when the monarch may have been in residence. He also reportedly hosted Epstein at Sandringham, another royal residence in eastern England, a year later. Epstein died in a federal jail in Manhattan on August 10 as he awaited trial charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. A coroner ruled that he committed suicide by hanging. Over the years, the financier hobnobbed with politicians, socialites and celebrities, including Donald Trump before he was president, and Bill Clinton. Virginia Giuffre -- previously Virginia Roberts -- one of Epstein's alleged victims, has testified that she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew in London when she was 17. She said she had sex with him again in New York and on Epstein's private island in the Caribbean. But the allegations were struck from the record by a US judge in 2015, who said the "lurid details" were not needed to decide a civil case concerning Epstein. Buckingham Palace has repeatedly and strenuously denied the claims, calling them "false and without foundation". The prince said he deplored "the exploitation of any human being and would not condone, participate in, or encourage any such behaviour."

Britain's Prince Andrew denies witnessing Epstein abuse

Britain's&nbsp;Prince&nbsp;Andrew&nbsp;has said he was "appalled" by allegations of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jeffrey-epsteins-autopsy-report-finds-broken-bones-in-his-neck-washington-post-243104">sexual&nbsp;abuse surrounding Jeffrey&nbsp;Epstein</a>&nbsp;after a video was released purporting to show him at the home of the convicted paedophile in 2010.

"The&nbsp;Duke of York&nbsp;has been&nbsp;appalled&nbsp;by the recent reports of Jeffrey&nbsp;Epstein's alleged crimes," Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Monday.

"His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent," the statement said.

The grainy video published by the Mail on Sunday&nbsp;claims&nbsp;to show the&nbsp;prince&nbsp;waving goodbye to a woman as she leaves&nbsp;Epstein's New York mansion in 2010.

Epstein&nbsp;had pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring for prostitution a girl under the age of 18 and served 13 months in prison before being released on probation.

The video was the latest in a string of revelations about&nbsp;Prince&nbsp;Andrew's friendship with&nbsp;Epstein&nbsp;in British tabloids.

The Mail on Monday said the&nbsp;prince&nbsp;had hosted&nbsp;Epstein&nbsp;at Balmoral, Queen Elizabeth II's home in Scotland, in 1999 at a time when the monarch may have been in residence.

He also reportedly hosted&nbsp;Epstein&nbsp;at Sandringham, another royal residence in eastern England, a year later.

Britain's Prince Andrew has said he was "appalled" by allegations of sexual abuse surrounding Jeffrey Epstein after a video was released purporting to show him at the home of the convicted paedophile in 2010.

Britain's Prince Andrew has said he was "appalled" by allegations of sexual abuse surrounding Jeffrey Epstein after a video was released purporting to show him at the home of the convicted paedophile in 2010. "The Duke of York has been appalled by the recent reports of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged crimes," Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Monday. "His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent," the statement said. The grainy video published by the Mail on Sunday claims to show the prince waving goodbye to a woman as she leaves Epstein's New York mansion in 2010. Epstein had pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring for prostitution a girl under the age of 18 and served 13 months in prison before being released on probation. The video was the latest in a string of revelations about Prince Andrew's friendship with Epstein in British tabloids. The Mail on Monday said the prince had hosted Epstein at Balmoral, Queen Elizabeth II's home in Scotland, in 1999 at a time when the monarch may have been in residence. He also reportedly hosted Epstein at Sandringham, another royal residence in eastern England, a year later.

Britain's Prince Andrew 'appalled' by Epstein abuse claims

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he wants a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-fbi-now-justice-department-probing-jeffrey-epstein-death-242081">full investigation into the circumstances</a> surrounding financier Jeffrey Epstein`s death at a federal detention facility in New York City while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/serious-irregularities-at-prison-where-epstein-died-us-attorney-general-242548">Epstein </a>was found dead on Saturday morning, having apparently hanged himself in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in lower Manhattan.

"Basically what we`re saying is we want an investigation. I want a full investigation, and that`s what I absolutely am demanding. That`s what our attorney general, our great attorney general is doing. He`s doing a full investigation," Trump told reporters in Morristown, New Jersey.

Trump made the comments a day after U.S. Attorney General William Barr vowed to carry on the Epstein investigation even after the wealthy and well-connected money manager`s death. Barr has ordered the Justice Department`s inspector general to look into the matter.

Trump also defended his decision on Saturday to retweet an unfounded conspiracy theory from a conservative comedian named Terrence K. Williams that former President Bill Clinton was involved in Epstein`s death.

"He`s a very highly respected conservative pundit," said of Williams. "He`s a big Trump fan. And that was a retweet. That wasn`t from me. ... So I think I was fine."

Epstein, who once counted Trump and Clinton as friends, was arrested on July 6 and pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking involving dozens of underage girls as young as 14.

The 66-year-old financier had been on suicide watch, but a source familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity said he was not on watch at the time of his death.&nbsp;

At the MCC, two jail guards are required to make separate checks on all prisoners every 30 minutes, but that procedure was not followed overnight, according to the source.

New York City`s medical examiner has said an autopsy on Epstein was completed on Sunday, but the cause of death remained pending. 
A growing chorus of lawmakers has demanded that the government hold responsible people who allegedly helped Epstein engage in sex trafficking.

Senator Ben Sasse, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Oversight Subcommittee, on Tuesday called on Barr to void a 2008 agreement that Epstein entered into with federal prosecutors in Florida that has been widely criticized as too lenient.

Under that deal, Epstein pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges and served 13 months in jail, but was allowed to leave the detention facility regularly for his office.

'Crooked deal'

Some of Epstein`s accusers have called on the federal judge overseeing that case to scrap portions of the agreement, which provided immunity to Epstein`s alleged co-conspirators. In a letter to Barr, Sasse said the agreement should be thrown out altogether.

"This crooked deal cannot stand," and should be voided to "ensure that some measure of justice is finally delivered to Epstein`s victims who have been let down time and time again by their government," Sasse said.

One of the prosecutors involved in the 2008 agreement, Alexander Acosta, resigned as Trump`s labor secretary in July as the Epstein deal came under fresh scrutiny after the financier`s arrest in New York.

Jerrold Nadler, the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, and Doug Collins, the panel`s top Republican, on Monday sent a letter to the acting director of the federal Bureau of Prisons regarding Epstein`s death, saying the "competency and rigor of our criminal justice system" have been marred.

The lawmakers said if the allegation about mistakes made at the facility is true, it would demonstrate "severe miscarriages of or deficiencies in inmate protocol and has allowed the deceased to ultimately evade facing justice."

A representative for the agency and its acting director, Hugh Hurwitz, were not immediately available to comment.

The Epstein scandal has also enmeshed Leslie Wexner, the billionaire chairman and chief executive behind Victoria`s Secret and Bath &amp; Body Works parent L Brands Inc , who had previously entrusted Epstein to manage his personal finances and serve as trustee of his charitable foundation.

Wexner recently hired white-collar defense lawyer Mary Jo White, a partner at Debevoise &amp; Plimpton LLP and former US attorney in Manhattan, according to a person familiar with the matter, as scrutiny of Epstein`s finances intensifies.

Wexner has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing.

White, who previously chaired the US Securities and Exchange Commission, has reached out to prosecutors working on the case, the person familiar with the matter said. It was not clear what they discussed.

Neither White nor a representative for Wexner immediately responded to requests for comment. A spokesman for US Attorney Geoffrey Berman in Manhattan declined to comment.

Last week, Wexner said Epstein had "misappropriated vast sums of money from me and my family."

Wexner also said he and his family had decided Epstein should step back from managing their finances by the fall of 2007 after sexual misconduct allegations emerged, and severed ties after discovering that their money was misused.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he wants a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding financier Jeffrey Epstein`s death at a federal detention facility in New York City while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he wants a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding financier Jeffrey Epstein`s death at a federal detention facility in New York City while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Epstein was found dead on Saturday morning, having apparently hanged himself in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in lower Manhattan. "Basically what we`re saying is we want an investigation. I want a full investigation, and that`s what I absolutely am demanding. That`s what our attorney general, our great attorney general is doing. He`s doing a full investigation," Trump told reporters in Morristown, New Jersey. Trump made the comments a day after U.S. Attorney General William Barr vowed to carry on the Epstein investigation even after the wealthy and well-connected money manager`s death. Barr has ordered the Justice Department`s inspector general to look into the matter. Trump also defended his decision on Saturday to retweet an unfounded conspiracy theory from a conservative comedian named Terrence K. Williams that former President Bill Clinton was involved in Epstein`s death. "He`s a very highly respected conservative pundit," said of Williams. "He`s a big Trump fan. And that was a retweet. That wasn`t from me. ... So I think I was fine." Epstein, who once counted Trump and Clinton as friends, was arrested on July 6 and pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking involving dozens of underage girls as young as 14. The 66-year-old financier had been on suicide watch, but a source familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity said he was not on watch at the time of his death. At the MCC, two jail guards are required to make separate checks on all prisoners every 30 minutes, but that procedure was not followed overnight, according to the source. New York City`s medical examiner has said an autopsy on Epstein was completed on Sunday, but the cause of death remained pending. A growing chorus of lawmakers has demanded that the government hold responsible people who allegedly helped Epstein engage in sex trafficking. Senator Ben Sasse, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Oversight Subcommittee, on Tuesday called on Barr to void a 2008 agreement that Epstein entered into with federal prosecutors in Florida that has been widely criticized as too lenient. Under that deal, Epstein pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges and served 13 months in jail, but was allowed to leave the detention facility regularly for his office. 'Crooked deal' Some of Epstein`s accusers have called on the federal judge overseeing that case to scrap portions of the agreement, which provided immunity to Epstein`s alleged co-conspirators. In a letter to Barr, Sasse said the agreement should be thrown out altogether. "This crooked deal cannot stand," and should be voided to "ensure that some measure of justice is finally delivered to Epstein`s victims who have been let down time and time again by their government," Sasse said. One of the prosecutors involved in the 2008 agreement, Alexander Acosta, resigned as Trump`s labor secretary in July as the Epstein deal came under fresh scrutiny after the financier`s arrest in New York. Jerrold Nadler, the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, and Doug Collins, the panel`s top Republican, on Monday sent a letter to the acting director of the federal Bureau of Prisons regarding Epstein`s death, saying the "competency and rigor of our criminal justice system" have been marred. The lawmakers said if the allegation about mistakes made at the facility is true, it would demonstrate "severe miscarriages of or deficiencies in inmate protocol and has allowed the deceased to ultimately evade facing justice." A representative for the agency and its acting director, Hugh Hurwitz, were not immediately available to comment. The Epstein scandal has also enmeshed Leslie Wexner, the billionaire chairman and chief executive behind Victoria`s Secret and Bath & Body Works parent L Brands Inc , who had previously entrusted Epstein to manage his personal finances and serve as trustee of his charitable foundation. Wexner recently hired white-collar defense lawyer Mary Jo White, a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and former US attorney in Manhattan, according to a person familiar with the matter, as scrutiny of Epstein`s finances intensifies. Wexner has not been accused of criminal wrongdoing. White, who previously chaired the US Securities and Exchange Commission, has reached out to prosecutors working on the case, the person familiar with the matter said. It was not clear what they discussed. Neither White nor a representative for Wexner immediately responded to requests for comment. A spokesman for US Attorney Geoffrey Berman in Manhattan declined to comment. Last week, Wexner said Epstein had "misappropriated vast sums of money from me and my family." Wexner also said he and his family had decided Epstein should step back from managing their finances by the fall of 2007 after sexual misconduct allegations emerged, and severed ties after discovering that their money was misused.

Trump says he wants full investigation into financier Epstein's death

US Attorney General William Barr on Monday criticized "serious irregularities" at the federal prison where Jeffrey Epstein died in an apparent suicide, adding that the sex-trafficking investigation involving the disgraced financier would continue.

Epstein was found dead on Saturday, having apparently hanged himself in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in lower Manhattan. The 66-year-old was arrested on July 6 and pleaded not guilty to federal charges of sex trafficking involving dozens of underage girls as young as 14.

Barr, the top US law enforcement official, vowed to carry on the case against anyone who was complicit with Epstein.

"Any co-conspirators should not rest easy," he said at an event in New Orleans.

Epstein was already a registered sex offender after pleading guilty in 2008 to Florida state charges of unlawfully paying a teenage girl for sex. Prior to his conviction, he had counted the rich and powerful, including US President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton, among his associates.

ABC News on Monday afternoon observed federal agents, including FBI and Customs and Border Protection, at the dock and on the grounds of Little Saint James, Jeffrey Epstein’s island home in the US Virgin Islands.

"There are FBI agents conducting enforcement operations in the US&nbsp;Virgin Islands," said FBI spokesman Guillermo Gonzalez, declining further comment.

Barr said on Saturday that he had asked the Justice Department's inspector general to investigate Epstein's death.

In his remarks on Monday at the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police's National Biennial Conference, Barr said the criminal case against Epstein was personally important to him and that his death denied his victims the chance to confront Epstein in a courtroom.

"I was appalled - and indeed the whole department was - and frankly angry to learn of the MCC's failure to adequately secure this prisoner," Barr said. "We are now learning of serious irregularities at this facility that are deeply concerning and demand a thorough investigation."

Barr did not say what those irregularities were. The decision by officials at the Bureau of Prisons not to keep Epstein on a suicide watch has come under scrutiny.

The facility where Epstein died is run by the federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the US Justice Department.

Even before Epstein's death, public defenders had called the MCC conditions inhumane.

"At the very least, out of a case that's been nothing but tragedy, maybe this will at least shine a spotlight on a facility that has had serious problems for years and years," David Patton, executive director of the Federal Defenders of New York, said in an interview.

Patton described MCC as an "inhumane, cramped place with inadequate staffing, particularly inadequate medical staffing or mental health staffing."

A tragedy to everyone

US District Judge Richard Berman, who was presiding over the case, denied Epstein's bail request last month. A few days later, Epstein was found unconscious on the floor of his jail cell with marks on his neck, and officials investigated that incident as a possible suicide or assault, according to media reports.

"Jeffrey Epstein's death is a tragedy to everyone involved in his case," Berman said in a statement on Monday.

It was not clear why Epstein was taken off the suicide watch. He was in a cell by himself when his body was found.

At MCC, two jail guards are required to make separate checks on all prisoners every 30 minutes, but that procedure was not followed on the night of Epstein's death, according to an official who was not authorized to speak on the record on the matter. In addition, guards are required to make another check every 15 minutes on prisoners who are on suicide watch.

The New York Times, citing prison and law-enforcement officials, reported that one of the two people guarding Epstein was not a full-fledged correctional officer and neither guard had checked on him for several hours before he was discovered.

The New York City medical examiner said that an autopsy had been completed on Epstein on Sunday but that a determination on the cause of death is still pending.

Epstein's death also affects civil litigation. In a court filing on Monday, two unnamed accusers of Epstein urged a federal judge in West Palm Beach, Florida, to scrap portions of Epstein's 2008 non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors there that provided immunity to his alleged co-conspirators from criminal charges.

The accusers said Epstein's death rendered moot all possible objections to scrapping the agreement.

The filing came in a long-running lawsuit by alleged victims who said prosecutors violated their rights by failing to consult them about Epstein's plea agreement, which was made on condition that Epstein cooperate with the Florida state prosecutors.

US Attorney General William Barr on Monday criticized "serious irregularities" at the federal prison where Jeffrey Epstein died in an apparent suicide, adding that the sex-trafficking investigation involving the disgraced financier would continue.

US Attorney General William Barr on Monday criticized "serious irregularities" at the federal prison where Jeffrey Epstein died in an apparent suicide, adding that the sex-trafficking investigation involving the disgraced financier would continue. Epstein was found dead on Saturday, having apparently hanged himself in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in lower Manhattan. The 66-year-old was arrested on July 6 and pleaded not guilty to federal charges of sex trafficking involving dozens of underage girls as young as 14. Barr, the top US law enforcement official, vowed to carry on the case against anyone who was complicit with Epstein. "Any co-conspirators should not rest easy," he said at an event in New Orleans. Epstein was already a registered sex offender after pleading guilty in 2008 to Florida state charges of unlawfully paying a teenage girl for sex. Prior to his conviction, he had counted the rich and powerful, including US President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton, among his associates. ABC News on Monday afternoon observed federal agents, including FBI and Customs and Border Protection, at the dock and on the grounds of Little Saint James, Jeffrey Epstein’s island home in the US Virgin Islands. "There are FBI agents conducting enforcement operations in the US Virgin Islands," said FBI spokesman Guillermo Gonzalez, declining further comment. Barr said on Saturday that he had asked the Justice Department's inspector general to investigate Epstein's death. In his remarks on Monday at the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police's National Biennial Conference, Barr said the criminal case against Epstein was personally important to him and that his death denied his victims the chance to confront Epstein in a courtroom. "I was appalled - and indeed the whole department was - and frankly angry to learn of the MCC's failure to adequately secure this prisoner," Barr said. "We are now learning of serious irregularities at this facility that are deeply concerning and demand a thorough investigation." Barr did not say what those irregularities were. The decision by officials at the Bureau of Prisons not to keep Epstein on a suicide watch has come under scrutiny. The facility where Epstein died is run by the federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the US Justice Department. Even before Epstein's death, public defenders had called the MCC conditions inhumane. "At the very least, out of a case that's been nothing but tragedy, maybe this will at least shine a spotlight on a facility that has had serious problems for years and years," David Patton, executive director of the Federal Defenders of New York, said in an interview. Patton described MCC as an "inhumane, cramped place with inadequate staffing, particularly inadequate medical staffing or mental health staffing." A tragedy to everyone US District Judge Richard Berman, who was presiding over the case, denied Epstein's bail request last month. A few days later, Epstein was found unconscious on the floor of his jail cell with marks on his neck, and officials investigated that incident as a possible suicide or assault, according to media reports. "Jeffrey Epstein's death is a tragedy to everyone involved in his case," Berman said in a statement on Monday. It was not clear why Epstein was taken off the suicide watch. He was in a cell by himself when his body was found. At MCC, two jail guards are required to make separate checks on all prisoners every 30 minutes, but that procedure was not followed on the night of Epstein's death, according to an official who was not authorized to speak on the record on the matter. In addition, guards are required to make another check every 15 minutes on prisoners who are on suicide watch. The New York Times, citing prison and law-enforcement officials, reported that one of the two people guarding Epstein was not a full-fledged correctional officer and neither guard had checked on him for several hours before he was discovered. The New York City medical examiner said that an autopsy had been completed on Epstein on Sunday but that a determination on the cause of death is still pending. Epstein's death also affects civil litigation. In a court filing on Monday, two unnamed accusers of Epstein urged a federal judge in West Palm Beach, Florida, to scrap portions of Epstein's 2008 non-prosecution agreement with federal prosecutors there that provided immunity to his alleged co-conspirators from criminal charges. The accusers said Epstein's death rendered moot all possible objections to scrapping the agreement. The filing came in a long-running lawsuit by alleged victims who said prosecutors violated their rights by failing to consult them about Epstein's plea agreement, which was made on condition that Epstein cooperate with the Florida state prosecutors.

Jeffery Epstein co-conspirators 'should not rest easy,' says US Attorney General William Barr

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