House Committee Seeks Deposition with Andrew in Jeffrey Epstein Probe
A American legislative panel looking into pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has sent a letter to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, demanding that he undergo an interview as part of its probe into Epstein’s illegal activities.
In a letter published on Thursday, a lawmaker, the top Democrat on the House oversight panel, requested that King Charles III’s brother help with its probe.
The official demand to provide testimony arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his princely title and consented to surrender his rented residence in Windsor.
Files and Allegations
Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in papers and flight logs secured from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s accusers, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.
“The committee will examine claims of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will demand data on Epstein’s network, network, and connections based on the men’s enduring and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a press release.
It sought particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his friendship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has always categorically denied any misconduct.
Substance of the Communication
“It has been widely reported that your association with Mr Epstein started in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 sentencing for procuring 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 estate at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s personal island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of abusing young girls. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, along with the freshly uncovered 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further supports our concern that you may have valuable information about the crimes committed by Mr Epstein and his accomplices.”
A notification regarding the letter said it was supported by 13 other Democrats on the committee and requests a reply by 20 November.
Previous Statements and Collaboration
The letter arrives a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be asked to appear before the panel. The people should be able to know who was assaulting women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”
However, the representative does not have the power to legally require the ex-royal and Congress itself cannot oblige statements from a foreign national.
In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor failed to cooperate to US requests for an meeting. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that authorities and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s lawyers to check on his previous pledge that he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency”.
“It’s reasonable for people to know whether Prince Andrew has followed through with that public commitment,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “provided zero cooperation”.
Appeals for Justice
The lawmaker said in a comment that “wealthy and powerful men have avoided justice for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the opportunity to be honest and secure redress for the affected individuals. We will not halt advocating for answerability and clarity for victims of Epstein and his gang of accomplices.”
Another signatory, a Virginia Democrat, said that after receiving accounts to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as media coverage of leaked documents, “it is crucial that Andrew assists with the active inquiry. If he is not guilty, then he can vindicate himself.”
The lawmaker added: “And if not, our investigation will reveal that, and the affected individuals will receive belated justice. The monarchy’s actions taking away Andrew of his titles indicate there is further to this situation.”
The letter was sent on the same day the British king publicly revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III publicly made the change – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “royal decree” which the royal office published in the Gazette, the UK’s public registry.
