Congressional Panel Seeks Deposition with Andrew in Epstein Investigation

A American legislative committee probing pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has sent a letter to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, requesting that he undergo an interview as part of its investigation into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a document made public on Thursday, a lawmaker, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, urged that King Charles III’s younger brother assist with its probe.

The written appeal to provide testimony comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his princely title and consented to give up his leased home in Windsor.

Files and Claims

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in papers and flight logs secured from Epstein’s estate and made public by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s survivors, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.

“The committee will probe claims of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will demand information on Epstein’s network, circle, and associates based on the men’s enduring and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

It demanded particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on specifics of his association with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York detention facility in 2019. Andrew has consistently strongly denied any wrongdoing.

Content of the Communication

“It has been widely reported that your friendship with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 guilty verdict for procuring minors for sex work,” the letter said.

It continued: “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 private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been accused of harming young girls. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, along with the newly disclosed 2011 email exchange in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our belief that you may have important details about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”

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 Collaboration

The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee told: “Andrew should be summoned to testify before the panel. The people should be able to know who was assaulting women and minors alongside Epstein.”

However, the lawmaker does not have the power to subpoena the duke and Congress itself cannot oblige evidence from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor failed to reply to US demands for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that authorities and the FBI had approached Andrew’s attorneys to follow up on his public commitment 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”.

Demands for Accountability

The lawmaker said in a announcement that “rich and powerful men have avoided the law for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the option to come clean and deliver redress for the affected individuals. We will not stop fighting for responsibility and transparency for those affected of Epstein and his network of co-conspirators.”

Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing evidence to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as media coverage of leaked documents, “it is essential that Andrew cooperates with the ongoing inquiry. If he is innocent, then he can prove his innocence.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our investigation will show that, and the victims will receive much-delayed justice. The royal household’s actions stripping Andrew of his titles suggest there is further to this story.”

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