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A American legislative committee investigating sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, demanding that he undergo questioning as part of its investigation into Epstein’s wrongdoings.

In a document made public on Thursday, a lawmaker, the senior Democrat on the House investigative committee, requested that King Charles III’s brother cooperate with its investigation.

The formal request to provide testimony follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his princely title and opted to vacate his rented residence in Windsor.

Files and Claims

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in papers and aviation records subpoenaed from Epstein’s estate and publicly released by the committee. He has also been accused by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of abuse.

“The committee will investigate allegations of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek data on Epstein’s network, circle, and connections based on the men’s longstanding and extensively reported friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

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

Content of the Communication

“It has been widely reported that your friendship with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you stayed connected through and after his 2008 sentencing for procuring minors for sex work,” the letter said.

It stated further: “It has also been reported that you journeyed with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s estate at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s personal island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been charged of harming minors. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, combined with the newly disclosed 2011 email exchange in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further confirms our belief that you may have key insights about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his partners in crime.”

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

Past Remarks and Assistance

The letter arrives a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be asked to testify before the oversight committee. The public should be able to know who was assaulting women and young girls alongside Epstein.”

However, the lawmaker does not hold the ability to legally require the former prince and Congress itself cannot compel statements from a foreign national.

In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor neglected to cooperate to US demands for an discussion. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that authorities and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s attorneys to check on his earlier promise that he was “willing to help any suitable law enforcement agency”.

“It’s fair for people to know whether Prince Andrew has honored with that public commitment,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “given no cooperation”.

Demands for Transparency

The lawmaker said in a announcement that “wealthy and powerful men have evaded the law for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the chance to come clean and deliver redress for the victims. The committee will not stop fighting for responsibility and transparency for those affected of Epstein and his group of partners.”

Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing evidence to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as public reporting of released files, “it is vital that Andrew works together with the ongoing investigation. If he is innocent, then he can prove his innocence.”

The lawmaker stated further: “And if not, our probe will demonstrate that, and the victims will receive long overdue redress. The monarchy’s actions taking away Andrew of his honors suggest there is additional to this situation.”

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