Belgium’s Prince Laurent Denies Involvement with Jeffrey Epstein

(MENAFN) Belgium’s Prince Laurent on Monday said he turned down several invitations from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and denied attending any public or corporate events where Epstein was present, after reports indicated his name appeared in the late financier’s emails, according to reports.

Speaking to a news agency, the prince said his comments were intended to "put an end to the rumors."

He explained that during internships at the United Nations and a major New York bank, Epstein approached him multiple times, asking questions he consistently refused to answer.

"During my internships at the UN and a major bank in New York's financial center, I was approached by Epstein several times. He asked me questions, to which I invariably refused. He wanted to meet my parents to introduce them to his billionaire friends. I told him my parents were not for sale," Laurent said.

The prince added that Epstein also attempted to involve him with European schools and universities, allegedly so he could teach economics there, including at institutions with female students—an approach Laurent rejected. He also said Epstein invited him to participate in an environmental project that he believed was "clearly intended to commit corruption," which he declined.

Laurent said that in 2012, Epstein invited him to a dinner in Paris reportedly attended by a head of state and prominent business figures. "I declined his invitation again, telling him I wasn't interested in the ostentatious display of wealth and that I didn't need him to interact with heads of state. He replied, frustrated, that no one declined such invitations," he recalled.

In a follow-up statement to Belga, the prince clarified that he had met Epstein privately on two occasions, after initially saying he had never attended any events involving him.

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