Congressional Panel Requests Deposition with Prince Andrew in Jeffrey Epstein Inquiry

A US congressional panel looking into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he undergo questioning as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s wrongdoings.

In a letter released on Thursday, a US representative, the top Democrat on the House oversight panel, requested that King Charles III’s younger brother help with its inquiry.

The formal request to provide testimony arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his royal title and agreed to vacate his property in Windsor.

Documents and Accusations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in documents and flight logs subpoenaed from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s accusers, the late Virginia Giuffre, of abuse.

“The committee will investigate claims of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request information on Epstein’s operations, associates, and associates based on the men’s long-term and extensively reported friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.

It demanded information from Mountbatten Windsor on particulars of his friendship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York detention facility in 2019. Andrew has always strongly denied any misconduct.

Details of the Communication

“It has been documented that your relationship with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you continued associating through and after his 2008 conviction for soliciting minors for commercial sex acts,” the letter said.

It continued: “It has also been reported that you journeyed 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 alleged of harming underage individuals. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, coupled with the newly disclosed 2011 electronic correspondence in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further supports our suspicion that you may have key insights about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”

A statement regarding the letter said it was supported by 13 other Democrats on the committee and demands a response by 20 November.

Earlier Comments and Assistance

The letter follows a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be asked to give evidence before the oversight committee. The people has the right to know who was assaulting women and minors alongside Epstein.”

However, the congressman does not have the power to compel the ex-royal and Congress itself cannot oblige testimony from a foreign national.

In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor failed to cooperate to US appeals for an discussion. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that authorities and the FBI had approached Andrew’s legal team to inquire on his public commitment that he was “ready 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 “given absolutely no cooperation”.

Demands for Justice

The congressman said in a comment that “rich and influential men have escaped justice for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the opportunity to be honest and deliver accountability for the survivors. Oversight Democrats will not stop advocating for answerability and clarity for those affected of Epstein and his network of co-conspirators.”

Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after receiving evidence to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as public reporting of disclosed papers, “it is crucial that Andrew cooperates with the current inquiry. If he is not guilty, then he can prove his innocence.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our investigation will show that, and the victims will receive long overdue justice. The monarchy’s actions taking away Andrew of his styles show there is further to this case.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king officially stripped Mountbatten Windsor of his princely title. Charles III officially made the change – 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.