<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-police-arrive-at-home-amid-jeffrey-epstein-investigation/8b871351-30b7-4202-99e6-04169219b5d6" rel="" target="" title="Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest"><span>Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest</span></a><span> has come as the former prince is under heavy scrutiny for his ties to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jeffrey-epstein" rel="" target="" title="Jeffrey Epstein"><span>Jeffrey Epstein</span></a><span> and accusations – strenuously denied by </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/prince-andrew" rel="" target="" title="Andrew"><span>Andrew</span></a><span> – that </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-timeline-of-events-between-prince-andrew-jeffrey-epstein/952378da-ce1f-43b9-a97f-d518d7e156ad" rel="" target="" title="Australian woman Virginia Giuffre was forced to have sex with the disgraced royal"><span>Australian woman Virginia Giuffre was forced to have sex with the disgraced royal</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the charge he was arrested on suspicion of, misconduct in public office, is not related to sexual misconduct, although it is linked to his </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbattenwindsor-arrested-former-prince-went-from-helicopter-pilot-to-trade-envoy-to-royal-pariah/0cdc2b58-f42d-4c9c-9dbf-071825b3cb5f" rel="" target="" title="relationship with Epstein"><span>relationship with Epstein</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is what we know about it.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>ANDREW ARRESTED:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-police-arrive-at-home-amid-jeffrey-epstein-investigation/8b871351-30b7-4202-99e6-04169219b5d6"><strong><span>'This is unprecedented': King's brother in custody as two addresses searched</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What exactly is 'misconduct in public office'?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The charge of misconduct in public office is an old one in the UK, dating back to at least the 18th century.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The offence has been noted as extremely hard to define and a high evidential bar for prosecutors to clear.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested/2ef8aaa2-1c2f-44ce-99ce-699dfce90936" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Crown Prosecution Service says the offence is committed when a public officer acting as such wilfully neglects to perform their duty and/or wilfully misconducts themselves to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder without reasonable excuse or justification.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Notably, no politician in the UK has ever been successfully convicted of the offence, though over the years several have been charged.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In recent years, prison officers have been prosecuted for the offence after having inappropriate relationships with inmates, as well as police officers leaking information.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>US PRESIDENT REACTS:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-donald-trump-reaction/53cace65-7e54-4dad-af47-5afc553a2eec"><strong><span>Donald Trump says Andrew's arrest 'very, very sad to me'</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>How does it relate to Andrew?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>UK police have not charged Andrew as yet, nor have they suggested their investigation is connected with any dealings the ex-prince had with Epstein, the convicted sex offender who was found dead in a jail cell in 2019.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, we do know the arrest comes shortly after millions of documents in the Epstein files were released by the US Justice Department, some of which named and pictured the British royal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And while the misconduct in public office offence isn't specifically linked to an allegation of sexual wrongdoing against Andrew, it does appear to relate to his association with Epstein.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>From 2001 to 2011, Mountbatten-Windsor held an official role as a UK trade envoy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>FROM PRINCE TO PARIAH:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-timeline-of-events-between-prince-andrew-jeffrey-epstein/952378da-ce1f-43b9-a97f-d518d7e156ad"><strong><span>Timeline of events that led to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is what prosecutors will point to as a "public office" if any charges are laid – although this element alone is not a straightforward process.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Firstly, it must be determined if Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was in a role within government that constitutes the title of public officer," Sean Caulfield, a criminal defence lawyer at Hodge Jones and Allen, said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There is no standard definition to clearly draw on."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Thames Valley Police previously confirmed it was looking into reports Mountbatten-Windsor sent confidential trade reports to Epstein in 2010.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Documents in those recently released Epstein files suggest Andrew passed on official government documents to the late financier when he was the trade envoy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EXPLAINED:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrested-what-happens-next-explained/9ae0c863-69ce-49c6-aa94-700e060cc516"><strong><span>What happens next after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Specifically, emails appeared to show him sharing reports of official visits to Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One, dated November 2010, appeared to be forwarded by Andrew five minutes after he had received it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In another a few weeks later, he appeared to send Epstein a confidential brief on investment opportunities in the reconstruction of Afghanistan's Helmand Province.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Andrew has long denied any wrongdoing over his Epstein links.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What's the maximum sentence for misconduct in public office?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If charged and then found guilty by a jury, Andrew could spend the rest of his life behind bars, as the offence carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, experts believe he would be likely to be handed a shorter sentence if convicted – although they've also said a guilty finding would be difficult to achieve.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>– with Associated Press</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div 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