Disgraced Sarah Ferguson ‘will never’ go back to the US amid fears she will face scrutiny from Jeffrey Epstein‘s victims and be forced to testify about him, an insider has claimed.
The former Duchess of York, 66, is said to be increasingly apprehensive about returning stateside in the wake of the damning Epstein files released earlier this year.
Her relationship with the paedophile came under scrutiny after it appeared he had been financially supporting her for over a decade and a half.
In one email to the financier, Ms Ferguson appears to say ‘just marry me,’ after a string of compliments – despite Epstein being convicted of soliciting sex from a minor just one year earlier.
Since her divorce from the shamed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in 1996, Ms Ferguson has spent time in the US promoting her business ventures, including books and lifestyle projects targeted to American audiences, regular appearances on American television networks and charity work.
Two weeks ago, a US lawmaker Suhas Subramanyam, 39, wrote to Ms Ferguson, prompting the mother-of-two to testify in Congress about Epstein and disclose any information relating to his criminal past.
He requested she give evidence in an ongoing investigation into Epstein’s sex trafficking operations in a letter ‘respectfully requesting’ Ms Ferguson’s cooperation.
However, Ms Ferguson is not obliged to appear before Congress or respond to the request as she is not a US citizen.
Ex-duchess Sarah Ferguson (pictured) ‘will never’ go back to the US amid fears she will face scrutiny from Jeffrey Epstein’s victims and be forced to testify about him, an insider has revealed
US lawmaker Suhas Subramanyam (pictured) has written to Ms Ferguson, prompting the mother-of-two to testify in Congress about Epstein
Now, an insider has suggested Ms Ferguson has informed her inner circle that she has no plans to return to the US.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, they said: ‘Sarah has made it clear to those around her she will never set foot in America again.
‘She is deeply worried about the reaction she would face, whether from Epstein’s victims or scrutiny from Congress.
‘She feels it would be unbearable and does not want to be put in a position under oath where she would be asked not only about Epstein but also about Andrew.’
The source added this was a ‘difficult decision’ for Ms Ferguson, who was once ‘deeply entrenched’ in the US.
It comes as the former duchess was dealt further humiliation after being formally stripped of her Freedom of the City of York title last month.
The Freedom of the City of York is a historic honorary status dating back to the 13th century.
It has been bestowed upon numerous politicians and celebrities, including Sir Winston Churchill and Dame Judi Dench.
The city’s councillors unanimously voted in favour of a motion to revoke ‘York’s highest honour’ from Ms Ferguson, who was awarded the privilege as a wedding present with her ex-husband when they visited the city in 1987.
Andrew, 66, was stripped of the accolade in 2022.
Five months later, Ms Ferguson lost her Duchess of York title when Andrew relinquished his Duke of York title because of his links to Epstein.
It followed revelations that Andrew paid a multi-million-pound out-of-court settlement to Virginia Giuffre, a trafficking victim, who alleged the ex-prince had sex with her three times when she was a teenager.
Ms Giuffre was purportedly introduced to Andrew by Epstein’s long-time fixer Ghislaine Maxwell, who is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.
In February, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, under allegations he sent confidential government documents to Epstein while working as a trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.
He spent 11 hours in police custody at Aylsham Police Station before being released.
Ms Ferguson has kept a low profile amid the rising scandal surrounding her and her ex-husband.
Ms Ferguson (left) lost her Duchess of York title when Andrew (right) relinquished his Duke of York title because of his links to Epstein
Andrew is seen slouched in the backseat of a Range Rover after spending 11 hours in police custody
She was last seen publicly in London on December 12 for the christening of her daughter Princess Beatrice’s newborn, Athena Mapelli Mozzi.
She is currently said to be on a secret sofa-surfing world tour after being booted from the Royal Lodge, staying at the homes of a number of friends and is said to remain in contact with a number of close allies through FaceTime calls.
She was reportedly staying in the UAE, and was spotted earlier this year at Irish wellness retreat Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa in Donegal in County Donegal.
Earlier this year, the Mail also revealed how Fergie had secretly taken refuge in the world-renowned £13,000-a-day Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland for much of January.
