Congressional Panel Asks for Interview with the Duke of York in Epstein Inquiry

A American legislative committee probing convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he submit to a deposition as part of its probe into Epstein’s illegal activities.

In a communication made public on Thursday, a US representative, the top Democrat on the House oversight panel, requested that King Charles III’s brother cooperate with its investigation.

The official demand to provide testimony arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was stripped of his HRH style and agreed to vacate his rented residence in Windsor.

Records and Accusations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name appears in records and flight logs secured from Epstein’s estate and publicly released by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s accusers, the late Virginia Giuffre, of misconduct.

“The oversight committee will investigate claims of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will demand data on Epstein’s operations, network, and associates based on the men’s longstanding and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a statement.

It sought details from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his friendship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York detention facility in 2019. Andrew has repeatedly vehemently rejected any wrongdoing.

Details of the Communication

“It has been publicly reported that your friendship with Mr Epstein started in 1999 and that you stayed connected through and after his 2008 conviction for procuring minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It added: “It has also been alleged that you went with Epstein to his New York home, the Queen’s residence at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s personal island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been charged of abusing young girls. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, coupled with the newly disclosed 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further confirms our suspicion that you may have key insights about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his partners in crime.”

A announcement regarding the letter said it was endorsed 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 asked to appear before the oversight committee. The people should be able to know who was abusing women and young girls alongside Epstein.”

However, the congressman does not hold the ability to compel the former prince and Congress itself cannot oblige evidence from a non-US citizen.

In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor did not reply to US demands for an discussion. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that lawyers and the FBI had approached Andrew’s attorneys to inquire on his public commitment that he was “willing to help any suitable law enforcement agency”.

“It’s reasonable for people to know whether Prince Andrew has honored with that public commitment,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “provided no cooperation”.

Appeals for Justice

The representative said in a comment that “affluent and well-connected men have evaded accountability for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the opportunity to come clean and secure redress for the affected individuals. We will not stop fighting for answerability and openness for survivors of Epstein and his network of co-conspirators.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after receiving testimony to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as media coverage of disclosed papers, “it is vital that Andrew works together with the current probe. If he is not guilty, then he can clear his name.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our probe will show that, and the survivors will receive belated justice. The Royal Family’s actions stripping Andrew of his styles indicate there is additional to this story.”

The letter came on the same day the British king publicly revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III formally made the alteration – which had been declared a week ago – by issuing a “official document” which the crown office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s official public record.