🔗 Share this article

A American legislative panel probing convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, demanding that he participate in a deposition as part of its investigation into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a document made public on Thursday, a lawmaker, the leading Democrat on the House oversight panel, asked that King Charles III’s brother help with its inquiry.

The formal request to respond to queries comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his princely title and consented to surrender his leased home in Windsor.

Files and Allegations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name is listed in papers and aviation records subpoenaed from Epstein’s estate and made public by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of misconduct.

“The oversight committee will investigate claims of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek information on Epstein’s network, associates, and accomplices based on the men’s long-term and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

It demanded details from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his association with Epstein, who killed himself in a New York detention facility in 2019. Andrew has always strongly denied any misconduct.

Substance of the Letter

“It has been documented that your relationship with Mr Epstein started in 1999 and that you stayed connected through and after his 2008 conviction for procuring minors for commercial sex acts,” the letter said.

It stated further: “It has also been alleged that you traveled with Epstein to his New York property, the Queen’s estate at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been accused of harming minors. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, coupled with the recently revealed 2011 electronic correspondence in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our concern that you may have key insights about the offenses committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”

A announcement regarding the letter said it was co-signed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and demands a answer by 20 November.

Previous Statements and Collaboration

The letter follows a week after another Democrat on the committee told: “Andrew should be called to appear before the panel. The people should be able to know who was abusing women and young girls alongside Epstein.”

However, the representative does not possess the ability to compel the ex-royal and Congress itself cannot force statements from a foreign national.

In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor neglected to cooperate to US requests for an discussion. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that prosecutors and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s attorneys to check on his public commitment that he was “prepared to help any suitable law enforcement agency”.

“It’s reasonable for people to know whether Prince Andrew has fulfilled with that public commitment,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “given zero cooperation”.

Calls for Accountability

The lawmaker said in a comment that “wealthy and well-connected men have evaded the law for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the chance to be honest and provide accountability for the affected individuals. We will not stop fighting for answerability and transparency for survivors of Epstein and his group of accomplices.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing evidence to the committee from Epstein’s survivors, as well as news accounts of leaked documents, “it is vital that Andrew works together with the current investigation. If he is not guilty, then he can vindicate himself.”

The lawmaker stated further: “And if not, our probe will reveal that, and the affected individuals will receive much-delayed accountability. The monarchy’s actions taking away Andrew of his titles show there is more to this situation.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king officially stripped Mountbatten Windsor of his princely title. Charles III officially made the adjustment – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “royal decree” which the monarch’s office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.