Ben Keith comments in the Times and The Sun on 'Royal Immunity' in relation to the Epstein saga. Read his comments for both publications below:
The Times:
Ben Keith remarked that diplomatic immunity was attached to the Duke of York’s role when he was a trade envoy but not to him as an individual.
“The Queen is the only member of the royal family who has sovereign immunity,” Mr Keith said.
At present there are no criminal proceedings in the US over Jeffrey Epstein’s behaviour because the financier, 66, hanged himself in jail in August before his trial on sex-trafficking charges. Legal action in the US is confined to lawyers for his alleged victims seeking financial damages from Epstein’s estate. Those lawyers say that the duke could assist their claims.
The original article was published in The Times on 23 November 2019, and can be viewed here.
The Sun:
"In terms of sovereign immunity, that's for the sovereign."
He said diplomatic immunity was attached to the Duke's role when he was UK trade envoy, a role he stood down from in 2011.
The original article was published by the Sun Online on 25 November 2019 and can be viewed here.
Ben Keith is a leading specialist in Extradition and International Crime. As well as dealing with Immigration, Serious Fraud, and Public law. He has extensive experience of appellate proceedings before the Administrative and Divisional Courts, Criminal and Civil Court of Appeal as well as applications and appeals to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and United Nations. He is ranked in Chambers and Partners as a band 1 leader in the field of Extradition at the London Bar and in the Legal 500 as a band 1 leading individual in international crime and extradition.
