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A American legislative panel investigating sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he participate in questioning as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a letter made public on Thursday, a California congressman, the leading Democrat on the House investigative committee, urged that King Charles III’s sibling assist with its investigation.

The official demand to provide testimony arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his royal title and opted to give up his rented residence in Windsor.

Records and Claims

Mountbatten Windsor’s name appears in papers and aviation records obtained from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of abuse.

“The oversight committee will examine accusations of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will demand information on Epstein’s network, associates, and accomplices based on the men’s long-term and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.

It demanded details from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his friendship with Epstein, who killed himself in a New York detention facility in 2019. Andrew has consistently strongly denied any impropriety.

Substance of the Request

“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 trafficking underage girls for commercial sex acts,” the letter said.

It stated further: “It has also been claimed that you traveled 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 minors. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, combined with the recently revealed 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further confirms our concern that you may have key insights about the crimes committed by Mr Epstein and his partners in crime.”

A notification regarding the letter said it was endorsed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and demands a reply by 20 November.

Earlier Remarks and Collaboration

The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be summoned to appear before the committee. The citizens has the right to know who was harming women and minors alongside Epstein.”

However, the congressman does not hold the authority to compel the duke and Congress itself cannot oblige evidence from a foreign national.

In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor did not reply to US requests for an meeting. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that lawyers and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s attorneys to inquire on his public commitment that he was “willing to help any suitable law enforcement agency”.

“It’s reasonable for people to know whether Prince Andrew has followed through with that assurance,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “given absolutely no cooperation”.

Demands for Accountability

The representative said in a statement that “rich and powerful men have avoided justice for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the opportunity to tell the truth and provide accountability for the victims. We will not cease advocating for responsibility and openness for survivors of Epstein and his network of accomplices.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after receiving evidence to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as news accounts of leaked documents, “it is crucial that Andrew assists with the active probe. If he is blameless, then he can prove his innocence.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our investigation will demonstrate that, and the affected individuals will receive long overdue redress. The Royal Family’s actions taking away Andrew of his titles show there is more to this case.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king formally revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III publicly made the adjustment – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “official document” which the monarch’s office published in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.