Congressional Committee Requests Interview with the Duke of York in Jeffrey Epstein Investigation

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

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

The official demand to answer questions comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his HRH style and opted to vacate his leased home in Windsor.

Records and Claims

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in records and flight logs obtained from Epstein’s estate and made public by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s accusers, the late Virginia Giuffre, of abuse.

“The panel will investigate allegations of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek information on Epstein’s activities, circle, and accomplices based on the men’s longstanding and extensively reported friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.

It requested details from Mountbatten Windsor on specifics of his friendship with Epstein, who took his own life in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has consistently categorically denied any misconduct.

Details of the Communication

“It has been widely reported that your association with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you continued associating through and after his 2008 guilty verdict for trafficking underage girls for prostitution,” the letter said.

It stated further: “It has also been claimed that you traveled with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s residence at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s personal island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of harming young girls. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, combined with the newly disclosed 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 accomplices.”

A statement regarding the letter said it was endorsed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and requests a answer by 20 November.

Past Statements and Cooperation

The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be summoned to testify before the panel. The public deserves to know who was harming women and minors alongside Epstein.”

However, the lawmaker does not have the ability to subpoena the former prince and Congress itself cannot compel evidence from a foreign national.

In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor did not respond to US requests for an discussion. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that lawyers and the FBI had reached out to Andrew’s attorneys to inquire on his previous pledge that he was “prepared to help any appropriate law enforcement agency”.

“It’s fair for people to know whether Prince Andrew has honored with that pledge,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “offered zero cooperation”.

Calls for Transparency

The representative said in a statement that “wealthy and powerful men have avoided the law for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the chance to be honest and secure justice for the affected individuals. Oversight Democrats will not cease fighting for responsibility and clarity for victims of Epstein and his network of co-conspirators.”

Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to evidence to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as public reporting of disclosed papers, “it is essential that Andrew works together with the ongoing inquiry. If he is blameless, then he can clear his name.”

The lawmaker stated further: “And if not, our probe will reveal that, and the survivors will receive long overdue justice. The monarchy’s actions taking away Andrew of his honors suggest there is additional to this situation.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king officially removed Mountbatten Windsor of his princely title. Charles III publicly made the change – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “letters patent” which the crown office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s public registry.