House Committee Seeks Questioning with Prince Andrew in Epstein Probe
A US congressional committee investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, demanding that he undergo a deposition as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s illegal activities.
In a document published on Thursday, a lawmaker, the senior Democrat on the House oversight panel, requested that King Charles III’s younger brother assist with its probe.
The formal request to respond to queries comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his princely title and opted to give up his rented residence in Windsor.
Documents and Accusations
Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in records and travel logs secured from Epstein’s estate and made public by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s survivors, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.
“The panel will investigate allegations of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request data on Epstein’s network, network, and accomplices based on the men’s enduring and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.
It demanded details from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his association with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York detention facility in 2019. Andrew has consistently categorically denied any wrongdoing.
Details of the Letter
“It has been documented that your relationship with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you continued associating through and after his 2008 conviction for procuring minors for sex work,” the letter said.
It continued: “It has also been alleged that you journeyed with Epstein to his New York property, the Queen’s residence at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s secluded island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been charged of harming underage individuals. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, coupled with the recently revealed 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our concern that you may have important details about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”
A notification regarding the letter said it was supported by 13 other Democrats on the committee and asks a answer by 20 November.
Earlier Comments and Cooperation
The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee told: “Andrew should be called to give evidence before the panel. The public deserves to know who was assaulting women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”
However, the lawmaker does not hold the authority to compel the ex-royal and Congress itself cannot force testimony from a overseas individual.
In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor did not cooperate to US requests for an discussion. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that lawyers and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s legal team to follow up on his public commitment that he was “ready to help any relevant law enforcement agency”.
“It’s reasonable for people to know whether Prince Andrew has honored with that pledge,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “provided absolutely no cooperation”.
Demands for Accountability
The congressman said in a statement that “wealthy and powerful men have evaded accountability for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the opportunity to tell the truth and secure justice for the victims. The committee will not cease pushing for answerability and openness for victims of Epstein and his gang of partners.”
Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after receiving accounts to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as media coverage of leaked documents, “it is vital that Andrew assists with the current inquiry. If he is blameless, then he can clear his name.”
The lawmaker continued: “And if not, our probe will reveal that, and the victims will receive belated redress. The Royal Family’s actions taking away Andrew of his titles suggest there is further to this story.”
The letter came on the same day the British king officially removed Mountbatten Windsor of his royal title. Charles III publicly made the change – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “letters patent” which the royal office published in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.
