Sarah Ferguson's Questionable Ethics Drawing Criticism Far and Wide

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has found herself in an embarrassing and compromising situation caught on tape for the entire world to see. The Duchess of York was captured on undercover video making deals with a News of the World reporter who was posing as a wealthy businessman. The video clearly shows Ferguson accepting cash-and a lot of it-in exchange for access to her ex-husband, Prince Andrew. In the video, Sarah Ferguson is seen discussing the details of the deal with a huge pile of cash-$40,000 in U.S. currency-sitting on the coffee table in front of her. The Duchess of York appears almost giddy as she stares at the pile of cash on the table while discussing a much larger deal to acquire $500,000 pounds in exchange for access to Prince Andrew. Ferguson appears both nervous and excited as she discusses the deal with the undercover reporter.

There is no evidence that Prince Andrew, the U.K.'s representative for international trade and business, had any knowledge of Sarah Ferguson's transactions. Ferguson makes it clear on the video that Prince Andrew is not the one accepting payment and that he never would accept this kind of deal. The Duchess of York is clearly very embarrassed to have been caught on videotape and has released a statement publicly apologizing for her actions. In her statement, Ferguson alluded to her recent financial difficulties as the motivator behind the transgressions. Sarah Ferguson has admitted that this was a serious lapse in judgment on her part and knows that it looks very bad. Ferguson was also very clear in her statement that Prince Andrew has always acted with complete integrity and wasn't involved in any way.

While the entire situation is somewhat shocking and unethical, no one is saying that the Duchess of York has actually broken the law. Sarah Ferguson is no stranger to controversy. Many still recall the topless photos of her from 1992 where a man other than Prince Andrew was sucking on her toes. She was separated from Andrew at the time the photos were taken, but it certainly demonstrates a pattern of less than stellar judgment on Ferguson's part.

It's unclear whether or not cries of, "off with her head" can be heard in the vicinity of Buckingham Palace tonight, but it's unlikely she'll be having tea with the Queen anytime soon!

Sources: NBC