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A American legislative committee looking into sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein has sent a letter to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he participate in an interview as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s illegal activities.

In a letter published on Thursday, a US representative, the senior Democrat on the House oversight panel, asked that King Charles III’s younger brother assist with its inquiry.

The written appeal to provide testimony comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his princely title and agreed to vacate his leased home in Windsor.

Documents and Accusations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name is listed in documents and flight logs subpoenaed 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 accusations of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek data on Epstein’s activities, circle, and connections based on the men’s long-term and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a statement.

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 always categorically denied any impropriety.

Content of the Request

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

It continued: “It has also been alleged that you went with Epstein to his New York property, the Queen’s estate at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of abusing minors. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, coupled with the recently revealed 2011 email exchange in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our concern that you may have important details about the crimes committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”

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

Previous Statements and Assistance

The letter arrives a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be called to give evidence before the committee. The people deserves to know who was abusing women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”

However, the congressman does not hold the authority to legally require the duke and Congress itself cannot compel testimony from a non-US citizen.

In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor failed to reply to US appeals for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that prosecutors and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s attorneys to follow up on his previous pledge that he was “prepared to help any relevant law enforcement agency”.

“It’s just for people to know whether Prince Andrew has followed through with that assurance,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “offered zero cooperation”.

Demands for Accountability

The congressman said in a comment that “wealthy and influential men have escaped accountability for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the opportunity to be honest and deliver accountability for the victims. We will not halt fighting for responsibility and clarity for survivors of Epstein and his group of accomplices.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing accounts to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as public reporting of disclosed papers, “it is essential that Andrew cooperates with the current probe. If he is not guilty, then he can vindicate himself.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our examination will reveal that, and the affected individuals will receive belated justice. The royal household’s actions removing Andrew of his styles suggest there is additional to this case.”

The letter came on the same day the British king officially revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III publicly made the adjustment – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “royal decree” which the crown office published in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.