By Kara Fox, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN
(CNN) — A person identified as “A” emailed the disgraced former British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell from the British royal family’s Scottish residence in 2001, asking whether she had “found me some new inappropriate friends,” according to newly released documents.
The email is part of a series of messages exchanged in 2001 and 2002 between Maxwell and someone using the email alias “The Invisible Man,” contained in a trove of files released Tuesday by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The emails are signed “A.”
The writer is not explicitly identified as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, but the former prince was introduced to Epstein in 1999 by Maxwell, Epstein’s then-girlfriend and now a convicted sex offender. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
In an email to Maxwell on August 16, 2001, person “A” wrote that “I am up here at Balmoral Summer Camp for the Royal Family.”
“How’s LA?” “A” wrote in the email. “Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”
Maxwell responded: “So sorry to disappoint you, however the truth must be told. I have only been able to find appropriate friends.”
None of the emails suggest any wrongdoing. CNN has attempted to contact representatives of Mountbatten-Windsor for comment. Andrew has previously denied all of the allegations against him.
Balmoral, a private estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is often used by the royal family as a summer residence. CNN has asked Buckingham Palace about the reference to Balmoral.
In the exchange with Maxwell, “A” added that that their “valet” – who they said had been with them since they were two – had recently died and that they had “left the RN.”
They wrote: “I am a little off balance as not only has my office been restructured, I have left the RN and now my whole life is in turmoil as I have no one to look after me. He was a real rock and almost a part of the family. If you have any good ideas as to how to get my mind back on track I’d be grateful for advice. See you real soon … I hope if you are coming over. A xxx,” the email closed.
Mountbatten-Windsor left the Royal Navy in July 2001, a month before the email exchange appears to have taken place.
A separate set of emails appears to show Maxwell helping plan a trip to Peru that involves “girls.”
In the emails dated between February and March 2002, Maxwell appears to act as a go-between for “A” and a man appearing to coordinate activities. In a February 27 email exchange with Maxwell, the apparent handler suggests he could offer “A” some sightseeing activities including horse riding and a private lunch near the sea, before asking: “About the girls … how old is he? I doubt it that he will find someone here, but we can try.”
Maxwell forwarded the email to “A,” whose email address appeared as “The Invisible Man.”
“A” responded that he was “overwhelmed at the kindness and