House Panel Asks for Questioning with the Duke of York in Epstein Investigation

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

In a letter published on Thursday, a US representative, the senior Democrat on the House investigative committee, asked that King Charles III’s sibling assist with its investigation.

The official demand to respond to queries arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his princely title and opted to surrender his property in Windsor.

Files and Allegations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name is listed in documents and flight logs subpoenaed from Epstein’s estate and publicly released by the committee. He has also been accused by one of Epstein’s survivors, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.

“The panel will investigate claims of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request information on Epstein’s activities, circle, and accomplices based on the men’s longstanding and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.

It demanded particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his friendship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019. Andrew has repeatedly vehemently rejected any misconduct.

Details of the Communication

“It has been publicly reported that your relationship with Mr Epstein started in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 sentencing for procuring minors for sex work,” the letter said.

It stated further: “It has also been alleged that you journeyed with Epstein to his New York property, the Queen’s home at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s secluded island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been charged of abusing young girls. This strong bond 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 important details about the offenses committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”

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 Assistance

The letter follows a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be summoned to give evidence before the committee. The citizens has the right to know who was assaulting women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”

However, the lawmaker does not hold the ability to compel the former prince and Congress itself cannot oblige statements from a non-US citizen.

In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor did not respond to US demands for an discussion. 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 public commitment that he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency”.

“It’s just for people to know whether Prince Andrew has fulfilled with that pledge,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “offered no cooperation”.

Appeals for Accountability

The representative said in a announcement that “affluent and powerful men have evaded justice for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the chance to be honest and provide redress for the survivors. The committee will not cease pushing for answerability and transparency for victims of Epstein and his network of partners.”

Another signatory, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing evidence to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as media coverage of leaked documents, “it is essential that Andrew cooperates with the active investigation. If he is blameless, then he can vindicate himself.”

The lawmaker continued: “And if not, our investigation will reveal that, and the victims will receive much-delayed accountability. The Royal Family’s actions taking away Andrew of his styles suggest there is additional to this situation.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king publicly revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III formally made the change – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “royal decree” which the royal office released in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.

Karen Weaver
Karen Weaver

A seasoned travel writer and cultural enthusiast with over a decade of experience exploring hidden gems across continents.