House Committee Asks for Deposition with Andrew in Jeffrey Epstein Investigation
A American legislative panel investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he submit to questioning as part of its probe into Epstein’s illegal activities.
In a letter released on Thursday, a US representative, the senior Democrat on the House investigative committee, urged that King Charles III’s brother help with its inquiry.
The written appeal to provide testimony follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his HRH style and opted to vacate his property in Windsor.
Records and Accusations
Mountbatten Windsor’s name is listed in papers and flight logs obtained from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s survivors, the late Virginia Giuffre, of misconduct.
“The panel will investigate claims of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek information on Epstein’s operations, associates, and accomplices based on the men’s longstanding and extensively reported friendship,” the committee said in a press release.
It sought information from Mountbatten Windsor on specifics of his association with Epstein, who killed himself in a New York jail cell in 2019. Andrew has consistently strongly denied any misconduct.
Content of the Request
“It has been widely reported that your friendship with Mr Epstein started in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 conviction for trafficking underage girls for commercial sex acts,” the letter said.
It continued: “It has also been claimed that you went with Epstein to his New York home, 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 close relationship with Mr Epstein, along with the newly disclosed 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further confirms our belief that you may have valuable information about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his partners in crime.”
A announcement regarding the letter said it was supported by 13 other Democrats on the committee and demands a response by 20 November.
Past Remarks and Collaboration
The letter arrives a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be asked to give evidence before the oversight committee. The people deserves to know who was abusing women and young girls alongside Epstein.”
However, the lawmaker does not have the ability to legally require the former prince and Congress itself cannot oblige statements from a foreign national.
In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor did not reply to US requests 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 public commitment that he was “ready to help any suitable 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 zero cooperation”.
Appeals for Justice
The representative said in a announcement that “affluent and powerful men have evaded the law for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the option to tell the truth and provide accountability for the survivors. The committee will not halt advocating for answerability and transparency for victims of Epstein and his gang of partners.”
Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to accounts to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as public reporting of leaked documents, “it is crucial that Andrew cooperates with the active inquiry. If he is blameless, 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 accountability. The Royal Family’s actions stripping Andrew of his honors indicate there is further to this case.”
The letter came on the same day the British king officially revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his royal title. Charles III publicly made the alteration – which had been declared a week ago – by issuing a “royal decree” which the crown office published in the Gazette, the UK’s official public record.
