A federal judge is on the cusp of releasing documents which allegedly reveal Prince Andrew played a role in protecting billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein from receiving an extra 18 years' jail.
Federal Judge Kenneth Marra said the documents would be released unless Epstein's legal team can convince him there are "extraordinary circumstances" as to why they should not.
"Public policy favours judicial records being open to the public," Judge Marra said. "For the court to take action inconsistent with that policy, a party seeking to seal a judicial record must provide adequate justification overcoming the presumption that filings in civil cases be public."
The potential release comes on the eve of Prince Andrew's first planned public appearance since allegations broke earlier this month that he had sex with a minor.
He is set to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
