Former Prince Andrew takes police to court over Epstein files arrest: Report

King Charles' younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has launched a legal action against Thames Valley Police over his arrest for suspicion of misconduct in office based on documents released by the US Justice Department on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Telegraph reported on Sunday. 

Mountbatten-Windsor, who was arrested in February on suspicion of leaking government documents to Epstein when he was a special representative for trade between 2001 and 2011, has asked a judge to determine whether the police force's action towards him was lawful, the report said. 

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Thames Valley Police and Buckingham Palace did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment, sent outside regular business hours. 

Mountbatten-Windsor, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and said he regrets their friendship.

According to the Telegraph, he has lodged a judicial review in connection with the search warrants that allowed police to raid his home on the Sandringham Estate and his former residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Mountbatten-Windsor was questioned all day by detectives from Thames Valley Police after being detained. The police force said it was looking into allegations that he had passed documents to Epstein while working as the trade envoy. 

The former prince was forced to quit all official royal duties in 2019 over his ties with Epstein and was then stripped by his older brother of his titles and honours last October amid further revelations about their relationship.

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