House Panel Seeks Interview with Andrew in Epstein Inquiry
A American legislative panel probing convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has sent a letter to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he submit to a deposition as part of its investigation into Epstein’s illegal activities.
In a communication released on Thursday, a California congressman, the leading Democrat on the House oversight committee, urged that King Charles III’s brother help with its investigation.
The written appeal to answer questions comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his princely title and opted to vacate his rented residence in Windsor.
Files and Claims
Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in papers and flight logs subpoenaed from Epstein’s estate and made public by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.
“The committee will probe allegations of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request data on Epstein’s operations, network, and connections based on the men’s enduring and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.
It requested details from Mountbatten Windsor on specifics of his association with Epstein, who killed himself in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has always strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Content of the Letter
“It has been publicly reported that your relationship with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you stayed connected through and after his 2008 guilty verdict 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 property, 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 underage individuals. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, combined with the freshly uncovered 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our belief that you may have important details about the offenses 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 demands a answer by 20 November.
Earlier Remarks and Collaboration
The letter follows a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be called to testify before the oversight committee. The people deserves to know who was assaulting women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”
However, the congressman does not have the power to compel the former prince and Congress itself cannot compel statements from a non-US citizen.
In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor did not cooperate to US demands for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that authorities and the FBI had reached out to Andrew’s attorneys to follow up on his earlier promise 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 pledge,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “provided zero cooperation”.
Demands for Accountability
The lawmaker said in a statement that “affluent and powerful men have avoided justice for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the option to tell the truth and secure accountability for the affected individuals. The committee will not stop fighting for accountability and clarity for survivors of Epstein and his group of accomplices.”
Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing testimony to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as public reporting of leaked documents, “it is essential that Andrew works together with the current inquiry. If he is innocent, then he can prove his innocence.”
The lawmaker added: “And if not, our examination will show that, and the victims will receive belated redress. The Royal Family’s actions stripping Andrew of his honors suggest there is additional to this case.”
The letter was sent on the same day the British king officially removed Mountbatten Windsor of his princely title. Charles III formally made the adjustment – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “letters patent” which the royal office published in the Gazette, the UK’s public registry.
