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A American legislative committee looking into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, demanding that he submit to an interview as part of its investigation into Epstein’s wrongdoings.

In a document released on Thursday, a California congressman, the top Democrat on the House investigative committee, urged that King Charles III’s younger brother help with its inquiry.

The written appeal to provide testimony arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his princely title and agreed to surrender his property in Windsor.

Documents and Accusations

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

“The committee will investigate accusations of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request details on Epstein’s network, associates, and connections based on the men’s long-term and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a statement.

It sought details from Mountbatten Windsor on specifics of his association with Epstein, who died by suicide 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 relationship with Mr Epstein started in 1999 and that you continued associating through and after his 2008 conviction for trafficking underage girls for commercial sex acts,” the letter said.

It added: “It has also been alleged that you journeyed with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s home at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s personal island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been accused of abusing young girls. This intimate friendship with Mr Epstein, along with the recently revealed 2011 email exchange in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further confirms our concern that you may have valuable information about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his partners in crime.”

A statement regarding the letter said it was co-signed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and asks a reply by 20 November.

Previous Comments and Assistance

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

However, the lawmaker does not hold the authority to legally require the former prince and Congress itself cannot oblige evidence from a non-US citizen.

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 authorities and the FBI had approached Andrew’s attorneys to check on his previous pledge 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 public commitment,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “given no cooperation”.

Demands for Accountability

The lawmaker said in a announcement that “rich and powerful men have avoided accountability for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the option to tell the truth and secure redress for the survivors. The committee will not stop fighting for responsibility and transparency for those affected of Epstein and his group of partners.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after receiving testimony to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as public reporting of released files, “it is essential that Andrew assists with the ongoing inquiry. If he is blameless, then he can vindicate himself.”

The lawmaker stated further: “And if not, our probe will demonstrate that, and the survivors will receive much-delayed accountability. The monarchy’s actions removing Andrew of his honors indicate there is additional to this situation.”

The letter was sent on the same day the British king formally revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his princely title. Charles III publicly made the adjustment – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “official document” which the crown office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s public registry.