Congressional Panel Seeks Interview with the Duke of York in Jeffrey Epstein Inquiry

A US congressional panel investigating pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, requesting that he undergo an interview as part of its investigation into Epstein’s illegal activities.

In a document released on Thursday, a California congressman, the senior Democrat on the House oversight committee, asked that King Charles III’s brother assist with its inquiry.

The written appeal to provide testimony follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was stripped of his HRH style and agreed to vacate his leased home in Windsor.

Records and Accusations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name appears in papers and aviation records subpoenaed from Epstein’s estate and publicly released by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s accusers, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.

“The panel will examine accusations of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek data on Epstein’s activities, network, and accomplices based on the men’s long-term and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a statement.

It demanded particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on specifics of his relationship with Epstein, who killed himself in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has repeatedly categorically denied any misconduct.

Substance of the Request

“It has been documented that your relationship with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 sentencing for procuring minors for commercial sex acts,” the letter said.

It stated further: “It has also been alleged that you went with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s home at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s personal island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been accused of abusing underage individuals. This intimate friendship 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 suspicion that you may have key insights about the crimes 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 response by 20 November.

Previous Statements and Collaboration

The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be called to give evidence before the panel. The public should be able to know who was harming women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”

However, the representative does not have the authority to subpoena the duke and Congress itself cannot oblige statements from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US agencies said that Mountbatten Windsor failed to respond to US demands for an meeting. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that lawyers and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s lawyers to inquire on his previous pledge that he was “ready to help any appropriate law enforcement agency”.

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

Appeals for Transparency

The lawmaker said in a announcement that “wealthy and powerful men have avoided justice for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the chance to be honest and provide justice for the affected individuals. The committee will not stop pushing for responsibility and openness for victims of Epstein and his network of partners.”

Another signatory, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to testimony to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as public reporting of released files, “it is crucial that Andrew cooperates with the current investigation. If he is innocent, then he can prove his innocence.”

The lawmaker stated further: “And if not, our probe will demonstrate that, and the survivors will receive much-delayed redress. The monarchy’s actions taking away Andrew of his titles indicate there is more to this story.”

The letter was sent on the same day the British king publicly stripped Mountbatten Windsor of his royal title. Charles III formally made the adjustment – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “official document” which the crown office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.