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Former Prince Andrew Arrested Amid Epstein Files Revelations; Plains Megafire Burns 283K-Plus Acres in Oklahoma and Kansas. Aired 8- 8:30a ET

Aired February 19, 2026 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[08:00:00]

SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Major breaking news out of the U.K. Former Prince Andrew arrested and taken into custody following revelations from the Epstein files. This morning, King Charles is making a cold and clear statement about his brother's arrest.

And, Iran in the crosshairs again. New reporting overnight, the U.S. military is ready to strike Iran as early as this weekend. What will President Trump say this morning during his live remarks as his Board of Peace meets for the first time?

Plus, a race to contain an explosive, fast-moving megafire ravaging parts of Oklahoma and Kansas.

I'm Sara Sidner with Kate Bolduan and John Berman. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And the breaking news, the stunning, history- smashing moment in the United Kingdom with ripple effects and the swirling Epstein scandals here in the United States as well. The former Prince Andrew, the brother of the King, arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Now, this appears to be in connection to the release of the Epstein files, at least in part, here in the United States, which shined a light on the long-standing connections between the former prince and the late convicted sex offender.

Just a short time ago, King Charles released a statement saying quote, "I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor," notice he does not call him his brother, "and suspicion of misconduct in public office. What now follows is the full, fair, and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and cooperation. Let me state clearly, the law must take its course."

So what happens next as the law takes its course with the brother of a monarch who could very well be behind bars at this moment? Let's get right to CNN's Salma Abdelaziz in London with the very latest. Bring us up to speed, Salma. SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just some jaw-dropping events taking place here today. Of course, a senior member of the royal household, the son of the Queen, the brother of King Charles, someone who's grown up in the public eye, now arrested on suspicion of misconduct while in public office.

What does that mean? What does that relate to? Well, all of this is allegations and accusations that swirl around the time that he represented the U.K. as a trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. As a trade representative for the U.K., he would have been bound by an agreement of confidentiality.

And it appears, according to the latest trove of Epstein files, that former Prince Andrew in that role was passing on confidential government information, government secrets, potential investment opportunities in places like Afghanistan to Jeffrey Epstein. Absolutely extraordinary allegations. Now, Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor, who has been stripped of all of his royal titles by his brother King Charles, the former Prince Andrew, as he is called now, he has denied any allegations of wrongdoing. He has strenuously defended his innocence. And he has yet, of course, to publicly speak on this arrest because he is, as we understand, currently in police custody in preparation for a potential police interview that we expect will take place soon. A policeman will sit down with former Prince Andrew and ask him questions.

You may say, well, why didn't they just call him in for questioning? Why did they need to arrest him? Well, the other thing that is happening right now as well is a police search of certain properties, including where he was staying at the Sandringham Estate.

He'd only moved there just days, weeks ago, this month, after he was expelled from the royal residence in Windsor, again, because of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein by his brother King Charles. Now, although this arrest centers around his time as a trade envoy, we have also heard from Virginia Giuffre's family who have welcomed this arrest and extended their gratitude to U.K. police.

SIDNER: Salma stay with us. We're going to bring also in our legal analyst, Joey Jackson, for more on this breaking news. Obviously, Joey, our two systems, the legal systems in the U.K. and the United States, are similar, but there are some big differences. Give us a sense of what this all means, this one so far accusation.

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JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes, Sara, that's a critical point you make about the distinctions in our systems. And good morning to you, John and Kate.

Look, the reality is, is there's a reason that there's an immigration issue and that people want to get into this country is because we have significant protections. Now, in talking about this, let me talk from a defense perspective.

This is a very significant development. No one wants to get arrested for anything. But the fact is, is that we should be clear he hasn't been charged or indicted.

That's the first difference. In the United States, what can happen is that charges can go before a grand jury. We have this complex system to protect the rights of people where you have evidence and information, and you take it before generally a body of 23.

They don't decide guilt or innocence. They simply determine whether there's reasonable cause to believe that a crime was committed and that you committed it. In the event that happens, you're indicted.

There is no grand jury system. We should be clear, right, in London at all. In England, they don't have that. So that's number one.

Number two, with respect to an arrest, if you're going to be arrested in the United States, it requires probable cause. Right. Probable cause to believe that a crime was committed and you committed it.

They don't have that. They have something called reasonable suspicion. I know these are legal terms, but just to clarify what those legal terms mean, reasonable suspicion is a lesser standard.

Do police reasonably believe that perhaps there's some criminality here? In the event they do, you get arrested. He was arrested not because a magistrate signed a warrant as what happened in the United States, but because the police reasonably believed, based upon information in the Epstein files and who else knows what they have, that he committed a crime.

Now, yes, he in order for we know there are search warrants being executed with respect to his prior residences. That does require a magistrate. But again, right?

A lower standard. Is there reason to believe that a crime was committed? And then just very briefly getting off from that.

Once you're arrested, you're allowed to be detained for 24 hours. Then it could be extended without charges, and it could be extended for up to 36 hours. And then they could hold you for up to four days in England, right? Unless there's belief that, in fact, you should be charged.

And if you are charged, you are. And so, yes, this is significant. I think the allegations with regard to him being an envoy and having this significant public title. Did he abuse that title?

Did he abuse the public trust? That's very important. But to this point, he hasn't been charged.

There's been no grand jury convened. This is an investigation that they're undergoing. He very well could be charged.

But as of today, that has not at least been publicly released that he has been. And so the discussion needs to be tempered with that in mind, with respect to that very issue.

BOLDUAN: Let's also bring in, I'm just told by the control room that Max Foster, CNN anchor and royal correspondent, is now there. Max, I'm so glad you were able to come up. What is the latest you are hearing?

MAX FOSTER, CNN ANCHOR AND ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we just heard from the Prince and Princess of Wales saying they are supporting that really profound statement John was reading earlier. He's right to point out that Charles doesn't even describe Andrew as his brother. He just describes a man called Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, very much separating himself, the monarchy, from this whole affair.

This is a case of damage limitation for the monarchy. They're aware that they can't function as long as this whole case surrounds them. We've seen Charles going up to events, William going to events.

All they get is questions about Andrew and what is a monarchy. It's a representation. And if that is constantly associated with a criminal investigation, it's a huge problem for the British monarchy.

And I'm struck by the idea that for the first time in nearly 400 years since the English Civil War, a senior royal has been arrested. So the last one was Charles I. And we can assume that Andrew, between interviews today, which could last for days, will be held in a cell, not getting any special treatment.

The police will want to make that entirely clear. If this is a case effectively about corruption and abuse of position, they're certainly not going to give him any special privileges here. So let's see what comes out of this.

But he could be charged in the next day or so, which takes this to a whole new level. But they clearly got some sort of significant new development here, which has triggered this. And what it now allows the police to do is go into palace systems and find out what happened at the other end of those e-mails that were coming from Jeffrey Epstein that we've seen already.

BERMAN: Max, I'm so glad you brought up the history here, because obviously the kingdom has such a long history. And whenever you can talk about something like this not happening for 400 years or so, that's a long time. And Andrew, you know, he's not being kept in the Tower of London or anything, but you have to go back 400 years to get the president.

Can you explain, Max, to us the difference now between the royal family and what legal prerogatives they may have, but also the government here?

[08:10:00]

And Keir Starmer, do we have any sense that either the prime minister's office knew this was coming or the King knew this was coming, what they've been told or whatever involvement they have?

FOSTER: We haven't got any inside track on that because everyone's being very careful on what they're saying. But it would be wrong of the police to allow the government or the monarchy to have any say in this investigation whatsoever. I think front of mind and everything that's happened here, the police will be acting entirely independently and doing everything their own way.

The Prime Minister and the King are trying to stay on message in the sense that the survivors, the victims are the most important figures here and that they will support any police investigation. So I don't think that the monarchy would have been told anything about this. And you've got to remember, the King sits on top of every institution in the United Kingdom.

He is head of the judiciary. If he were to get involved in any way in this process, then he would then be involved of abusing his position, abusing power and could face the same charges. This is a very delicate matter, but it's making the whole of the U.K. establishment extremely nervous and less secure.

BOLDUAN: And Max, just to add to that, weren't police also investigating and going through what is the King's private estate in Sandringham? I mean, just to show how as Prince is this former Prince Andrew is pushed out of Windsor, he's in Sandringham.

FOSTER: Yes, so he was forced out of his official residence on what is a state estate, which is the Windsor estate, which is owned by the crown estate operated by the government. And the idea was that they could move him from there onto the King's private estate in Norfolk to get him away from this.

But clearly, we've seen that hasn't worked because now everyone's talking about how he was on the King's estate. And this links this investigation to the King. So there were lots of discussions about what to do about Andrew and to distance him.

One of the ideas was to send him out of the country. They didn't do that. They sent him to Norfolk.

This compromise clearly hasn't worked because it's still the King's estate.

SIDNER: Even though he is now a private citizen, he's still the brother of the King. And that was just last year that he was still a prince until they made the decision.

BOLDUAN: Max, thank you so much. Salma, thank you so much for the great reporting and Joey for the insight. Really appreciate it.

We have much more of breaking news coverage on this after the break. Of course, we're also standing by to hear from President Trump this morning at the inaugural, the first meeting of his Board of Peace, as CNN learns that the United States is also preparing and prepared to strike Iran as early as this weekend. If President Trump makes the call.

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SIDNER: This morning, there are multiple wildfires scorching the plains. The biggest, the Ranger Road Fire. It's now a megafire, exploding in size across Oklahoma and Kansas.

It's burned nearly 300,000 acres. And at one point, tearing through the equivalent of three to four football fields every single second. The governor of Oklahoma has now issued a disaster emergency for three counties.

Joining me now, Deputy Fire Manager Drew Daily with the Oklahoma Department of Agricultural Food and Forestry. Thank you so much for being here. I know it has been an enormously busy time for you.

What is the latest on any search and rescue efforts? And how are crews doing as they're trying to battle this?

DREW DAILY, DEPUTY FIRE MANAGER, OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FORESTRY: So, as you said, it's been a very active couple of days here in the southern plains, and especially in Oklahoma, Kansas, and the panhandle of Texas. As you referenced, the Ranger Road Fire, it has just shy of 300,000 acres. That fire did move approximately five miles per hour, just outpacing firefighting capacity.

I do have to say that it's just very encouraging to see the community come together, rule and volunteer firefighters, state and federal resources in lockstep, combating something that is right here in the grocery store of America, where farming and ranching is critical. And these fires just threaten our lives and livelihoods when they do occur. So I will say that on the Ranger Road Fire, and most of the fires that did occur on last Tuesday, or Tuesday, excuse me, and then yesterday as well, we pretty much have forward progression stopped on those, but there's still the yeoman's work that has to be accomplished to make sure that these fires stay in that footprint.

All of this while we still have critical fire weather over very dry fuels across the state of Oklahoma, and we are bracing, prepared for, and expecting new wildfires to emerge today. They're going to be presenting very challenging conditions.

SIDNER: I just wanted to ask you what it is like for the firefighters who are out there. Many of them, as you mentioned, are from rural areas. They're volunteers in the middle of this dangerous and potentially deadly megafire that can spark up any time, because, of course, you always have those hot spots that are left behind, even when it looks like the fire is out.

What are they battling? What are they facing?

[08:20:00]

DAILY: So these fires are moving, like I said, this fire in the first hour, it moved 5.5 miles, and then it got into the Cimarron River drainage, which is very challenging conditions. People often think of the plains as flat, topography with a lot of grass. It's very complex terrain with varied fuels, makes firefighting very difficult, especially when it's moving that fast. The margin for error is very low.

We have to make sure that we're providing for our own personal safety so that we can protect those that we do serve. And again, let me say that, you know, flame lengths were anywhere from 20 to at times averaging over 75 feet in those heavier fuels moving across the landscape at just a very quick pace, again, outpacing our suppression capability. We had to look for an opportunity on the landscape.

As winds began to calm in the evening and we got into that river drainage corridor, we found some opportunity to, you know, capture the head fire progression as it got into Kansas. But again, we are expecting, you know, an emergence of new wildfires again in today and coming days that will prove to be challenging. And we are expecting to see more large fire occurrence on the southern plains in days to come.

SIDNER: Yes, dry, windy conditions. We're even seeing some of those firenadoes that happen where it kind of creates its own weather system because it's so hot and going so fast. Drew Daily, thank you to you and the many volunteer firefighters that are out there battling this for the safety of others.

We do appreciate it -- John.

BERMAN: All right, in the breaking news this morning, former Prince Andrew arrested amid the Epstein Files revelations. We've got new statements in from the Prince of Wales, new reporting about what launched this chain of extraordinary events.

[08:25:00]

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BERMAN: All right, the major breaking news this morning. We're standing by for more details on the arrest of the King's brother, the former Prince Andrew. Prime Minister, the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said in a new interview, nobody is above the law, but all of the swirling clouds of the Epstein scandal have had an impact on the British Prime Minister and his government.

With us this morning, Senate Chief Data Analyst, Harry Enten. Now, these numbers we're talking about, they're not from now. They're not from today, from the arrest of the former Prince Andrew.

But Keir Starmer has been sagging because largely of what's been going on with Jeffrey Epstein. So where does he stand right now?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: These numbers are absolutely atrocious. I mean, you never see numbers like this in the United States of Americans. Britons who like Keir Starmer, look at this.

Overall, it's just one in five. It's just one in five. It's 20 percent.

His own party, his own party Labour, he's just at 52 percent there. I've even seen numbers with satisfaction of him in the teens, in the teens. This is actually higher than the lowest.

We're talking just about 20 percent. You know, we always talk about Donald Trump being unpopular in this country. But Donald Trump looks downright like Abraham Lincoln compared to Keir Starmer's numbers at this point.

BERMAN: Well, translate this into American then.

ENTEN: OK, let's translate this into American. OK, I think of presidents, I think of leaders of this country who had low approval ratings. And I think of Richard Nixon.

OK, popularity ratings in their own country. In 1974, Richard Nixon, just before he was forced to resign, 24 percent, 24 percent. But look at Starmer.

He's actually lower. He's lower at 20 percent. He is polling worse now than Richard Nixon was with Americans before he was forced to resign.

And I will note within their own party, they're both at about 50 percent popularity ratings. That, of course, is a very dangerous number because it's one thing if you don't have the support of the overall electorate, but when you don't even have the real support of your own party, those are the types of numbers that you can say, adios amigos, goodbye, see you later.

BERMAN: We know what this typically means here in the United States, low numbers like this. What of numbers this low? If there have ever been numbers this low, mean for people in power in the United Kingdom.

ENTEN: Yes, OK. So I went back through the history books, looked back through all the stats, all the old British polls that I can find. OK, let's take a look at U.K. PMs with ratings as bad as Starmer's.

Look at this. All lost or resigned before their next election. So nobody who has had numbers as bad as Keir Starmer has ever survived numbers this bad.

Just like Richard Nixon didn't survive numbers this bad back in 1974.

BERMAN: So then what are the prediction markets saying about what could happen to Starmer?

ENTEN: OK, so what are the prediction markets saying about what happened to Keir Starmer? Take a look here. Chance Starmer is out of power by the end of August.

Already 59 percent chance that Keir Starmer is out of power by the end of August. If there was a market later on, I bet this number would climb even higher. But at this point, Keir Starmer has a major size political problem, and I don't think the news of today will help him much at all.

BERMAN: All right, Harriet Enten, some perspective of what's happening overseas before our very eyes today, thank you very much.

ENTEN: Thank you.

BERMAN: As we said, we've got a lot of news developing this morning. We'll be right back.

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