Congressional Committee Requests Interview with the Duke of York in Jeffrey Epstein Inquiry

A American legislative committee probing sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he participate in questioning as part of its investigation into Epstein’s illegal activities.

In a document released on Thursday, a US representative, the top Democrat on the House oversight panel, urged that King Charles III’s younger brother assist with its investigation.

The written appeal to provide testimony comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his HRH style and opted to vacate his property in Windsor.

Files and Claims

Mountbatten Windsor’s name is listed in papers and travel logs secured from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s accusers, the late Virginia Giuffre, of abuse.

“The committee will probe claims of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will demand data on Epstein’s operations, circle, and accomplices based on the men’s long-term and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

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

Content of the Request

“It has been widely reported that your relationship with Mr Epstein started in 1999 and that you stayed connected through and after his 2008 guilty verdict for soliciting minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It added: “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 alleged of abusing underage individuals. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, combined with the newly disclosed 2011 electronic correspondence in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our concern that you may have valuable information about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”

A notification regarding the letter said it was co-signed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and requests a response by 20 November.

Past Comments and Assistance

The letter arrives a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be asked to appear before the panel. The public has the right to know who was assaulting women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”

However, the congressman does not have the ability to legally require the duke and Congress itself cannot compel testimony from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor did not cooperate to US appeals for an discussion. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that prosecutors and the FBI had reached out to Andrew’s attorneys to follow up on his public commitment that he was “willing to help any suitable law enforcement agency”.

“It’s fair for people to know whether Prince Andrew has fulfilled with that pledge,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “given zero cooperation”.

Demands for Accountability

The representative said in a statement that “rich and powerful men have avoided accountability for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the opportunity to be honest and deliver accountability for the affected individuals. Oversight Democrats will not stop advocating for accountability and clarity for those affected of Epstein and his gang of co-conspirators.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after receiving accounts to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as news accounts of disclosed papers, “it is vital that Andrew works together with the ongoing inquiry. If he is innocent, then he can prove his innocence.”

The lawmaker stated further: “And if not, our investigation will show that, and the survivors will receive belated accountability. The monarchy’s actions stripping Andrew of his titles show there is more to this case.”

The letter came on the same day the British king publicly revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his princely title. Charles III formally made the change – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “royal decree” which the crown office published in the Gazette, the UK’s official public record.

Catherine Manning
Catherine Manning

A freelance arts journalist and curator based in London, specializing in contemporary music and visual arts.