Congressional Panel Seeks Questioning with the Duke of York in Jeffrey Epstein Investigation
A American legislative panel looking into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he participate in questioning as part of its probe into Epstein’s illegal activities.
In a letter made public on Thursday, a California congressman, the top Democrat on the House oversight panel, asked that King Charles III’s younger brother help with its investigation.
The written appeal to answer questions comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his royal title and opted to vacate his leased home in Windsor.
Documents and Allegations
Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in documents and aviation records secured from Epstein’s estate and publicly released by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of misconduct.
“The committee will investigate allegations of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request information on Epstein’s activities, network, and accomplices based on the men’s longstanding and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a press release.
It demanded information from Mountbatten Windsor on specifics of his friendship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has always vehemently rejected any impropriety.
Substance of the Communication
“It has been documented that your association with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you continued associating through and after his 2008 conviction for trafficking underage girls for sex work,” the letter said.
It stated further: “It has also been claimed that you went with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s residence at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s secluded island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been charged of abusing minors. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, combined with the newly disclosed 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 wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his accomplices.”
A announcement regarding the letter said it was endorsed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and requests a reply by 20 November.
Earlier Statements and Collaboration
The letter arrives a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be called to testify before the panel. The public deserves to know who was abusing women and minors alongside Epstein.”
However, the congressman does not possess the ability to legally require the former prince and Congress itself cannot compel statements from a foreign national.
In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor failed to respond to US appeals for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that authorities and the FBI had approached Andrew’s lawyers to inquire on his previous pledge that he was “willing to help any relevant law enforcement agency”.
“It’s fair for people to know whether Prince Andrew has followed through with that assurance,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “provided zero cooperation”.
Appeals for Accountability
The congressman said in a announcement that “wealthy and well-connected men have escaped justice for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the chance to be honest and provide accountability for the affected individuals. Oversight Democrats will not halt advocating for accountability and openness for survivors of Epstein and his network of accomplices.”
Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to accounts to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as public reporting of disclosed papers, “it is crucial that Andrew assists with the ongoing probe. If he is innocent, then he can clear his name.”
The lawmaker added: “And if not, our probe will demonstrate that, and the survivors will receive much-delayed justice. The monarchy’s actions removing Andrew of his styles indicate there is more to this situation.”
The letter was sent on the same day the British king formally stripped Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III publicly made the adjustment – which had been declared a week ago – by issuing a “official document” which the monarch’s office released in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.