Congressional Committee Requests Interview with Andrew in Epstein Inquiry
A American legislative committee looking into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, demanding that he undergo a deposition as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s illegal activities.
In a communication published on Thursday, a lawmaker, the top Democrat on the House investigative committee, requested that King Charles III’s brother assist with its probe.
The official demand to provide testimony arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was stripped of his HRH style and opted to vacate his property in Windsor.
Documents and Accusations
Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in documents and flight logs obtained from Epstein’s estate and publicly released by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s survivors, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.
“The committee will probe accusations of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek details on Epstein’s activities, network, and associates based on the men’s long-term and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a press release.
It sought details from Mountbatten Windsor on particulars of his association with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019. Andrew has always vehemently rejected any misconduct.
Content of the Communication
“It has been documented that your relationship with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 guilty verdict for soliciting minors for sex work,” the letter said.
It stated further: “It has also been claimed that you journeyed with Epstein to his New York home, the Queen’s home at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s personal island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been accused of harming minors. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, coupled with the freshly uncovered 2011 electronic correspondence in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further supports our belief that you may have valuable information about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”
A statement regarding the letter said it was supported by 13 other Democrats on the committee and requests a reply by 20 November.
Previous Remarks and Cooperation
The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be called to testify before the panel. The citizens should be able to know who was assaulting women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”
However, the representative does not possess the authority to legally require the duke and Congress itself cannot oblige evidence from a overseas individual.
In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor did not respond to US requests for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that prosecutors and the FBI had approached Andrew’s legal team to check on his previous pledge that he was “ready to help any relevant law enforcement agency”.
“It’s reasonable for people to know whether Prince Andrew has followed through with that public commitment,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “provided no cooperation”.
Calls for Justice
The lawmaker said in a comment that “wealthy and influential men have avoided the law for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the opportunity to be honest and secure justice for the survivors. Oversight Democrats will not stop advocating for responsibility and openness for victims of Epstein and his gang of partners.”
Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing accounts to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as news accounts of leaked documents, “it is essential that Andrew cooperates with the active probe. If he is not guilty, then he can prove his innocence.”
The lawmaker added: “And if not, our probe will demonstrate that, and the victims will receive much-delayed redress. The Royal Family’s actions removing Andrew of his honors indicate there is further to this story.”
The letter was issued on the same day the British king officially stripped Mountbatten Windsor of his princely title. Charles III officially made the change – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “royal decree” which the crown office released in the Gazette, the UK’s public registry.
