Prince Andrew hires ‘master of the dark arts’ spin doctor to rebuild his reputation as Epstein scandal deepens
PRINCE Andrew has hired a new spin doctor in a bid to rebuild his reputation ahead of a Channel 4 documentary probing his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Former Work and Pensions secretary Amber Rudd’s ex-special adviser Jason Stein will as the Duke of York’s communications secretary on Thursday.
The Duke has always denied any wrongdoing during his friendship with the billionaire financier, which began after the two met in 1999.
The 28-year-old lost his job last month after Rudd resigned from the cabinet in protest at Boris Johnson removing the whip from 21 rebel Tory MPs.
During his time in Westminster, Stein developed a reputation as a “master of the dark arts” which will come in handy as he spearheads his PR rehabilitation.
Both the Duke and Stein are also said to have a love of golf, which could play a role in strengthening their budding professional relationship.
Stein will report directly to the Duke’s private secretary Amanda Thirsk, rather than the Buckingham Palace press office, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The former Tory spad’s arrival comes two weeks ahead of a Channel 4 documentary exploring the relationship between Prince Andrew and Epstein.
Yesterday it was revealed that Prince Andrew accepted that the dead financier was an “undercover” paedophile, in a similar vein to Jimmy Savile.
The prince has long faced criticism for his association with the convicted paedo, who in August was found dead in his prison cell while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges.
But the Prince claims never to have "seen, witnessed, or suspected" the behaviour that led to Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting an underage girl for prostitution, for which he served 13 months in custody.
In 2010, four months after Epstein's release, the two were pictured walking together in New York's Central Park, a meeting Andrew has said was part of an attempt to break off contact with Epstein.
Andrew declined to criticise Epstein publicly before his death, but now accepts his friend was an "undercover" paedophile similar to Jimmy Savile, the reports.
After Savile's death in 2011, hundreds of allegations of sexual abuse emerged, leading police to conclude he had been a serial predatory sex offender.
A senior source close to Andrew said he believes Epstein was "very good at keeping his cover" in the same way as Savile, many of whose victims said his power and influence had made them reluctant to come forward while he was alive.
"Every example of anyone behaving like Epstein, who has later been discovered, has actually been very good at keeping their cover,” said the source.
A statement released by Prince Andrew after Epstein's death read: "It is apparent to me since the suicide of Mr Epstein that there has been an immense amount of media speculation about so much in his life.
"This is particularly the case in relation to my former association or friendship with Mr Epstein.
"Therefore I am eager to clarify the facts to avoid further speculation.
"During the time I knew him, I saw him infrequently and probably no more than only once or twice a year.
"I have stayed in a number of his residences.
"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.
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"I have said previously that it was a mistake and an error to see him after his release in 2010 and I can only reiterate my regret that I was mistaken to think that what I thought I knew of him was evidently not the real person, given what we now know.
"I have tremendous sympathy for all those affected by his actions and behaviour."
At least five women who say they were abused by Epstein have filed lawsuits against his £458million estate since his death.
The Sun has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
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