PRINCE Andrew’s refusal to be quizzed by US investigators directly blocked a bid to extradite the alleged killer of Harry Dunn, a new book claims.
Officials wanted to ask Andrew, 62, about links to billionaire paedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein.
His “zero cooperation” gave the US an excuse not to hand over CIA spy’s wife Anne Sacoolas, ex-New York prosecutor Geoffrey Berman alleges.
Sacoolas, 45, is accused of causing 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry’s death by dangerous driving outside RAF Croughton, Northants.
She had diplomatic immunity and left Britain after the crash in 2019.
She finally made her first court appearance last week via video link from her lawyer’s office in America after a three-year delay.
Now Berman says Prince Andrew’s stand-off became a “chit” – or leverage – used by the Trump government.
His account is the first time any official has publicly revealed how Andrew’s stance had a major impact on Harry’s case.
And in his new memoir, Holding The Line, Mr Berman tells how then US Attorney General Bill Barr rang to congratulate him after he had publicly slammed Andrew’s “zero cooperation”.
Mr Berman recalled: “Barr told me that the public rift over Prince Andrew’s refusal to sit for an interview was useful in this other case.
The Sun revealed in 2020 how US prosecutors later filed a formal mutual legal assistance request to the Home Office asking to quiz Andrew.
Mr Berman says in his book that the demand “got absolutely nowhere”.
He wrote: “Were they protecting him? I assume someone was.”
And he adds: “Prince Andrew clearly knew Epstein and Maxwell.
“He was on the island. He was at the mansion in New York.
“He was in London with them.
“We had a lot of questions for him, and as of the day I was fired, those questions remain unanswered.”
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