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A American legislative panel probing pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, requesting that he undergo a deposition as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a letter released on Thursday, a lawmaker, the leading Democrat on the House oversight committee, urged that King Charles III’s younger brother assist with its probe.

The written appeal to provide testimony arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his princely title and opted to give up his rented residence in Windsor.

Documents and Claims

Mountbatten Windsor’s name appears in documents and flight logs obtained from Epstein’s estate and publicly released by the committee. He has also been accused by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of misconduct.

“The oversight committee will investigate allegations of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek data on Epstein’s operations, circle, and accomplices based on the men’s long-term and extensively reported friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

It demanded details 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 misconduct.

Content of the Request

“It has been documented that your friendship with Mr Epstein started in 1999 and that you continued associating through and after his 2008 conviction for trafficking underage girls for sex work,” the letter said.

It stated further: “It has also been claimed that you traveled with Epstein to his New York home, the Queen’s home at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been charged of assaulting 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 suspicion that you may have valuable information about the crimes committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”

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

Previous Comments and Cooperation

The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be asked to testify before the committee. The citizens should be able to know who was assaulting women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”

However, the representative does not possess the authority to legally require the duke and Congress itself cannot compel evidence from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US agencies said that Mountbatten Windsor failed to reply to US demands for an meeting. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that lawyers and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s legal team to inquire on his earlier promise that he was “willing 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 “provided absolutely no cooperation”.

Demands for Justice

The representative said in a announcement that “rich and influential men have escaped justice for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the chance to tell the truth and provide redress for the survivors. The committee will not stop pushing for responsibility and transparency for survivors of Epstein and his network of accomplices.”

Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to accounts to the committee from Epstein’s survivors, as well as media coverage of released files, “it is vital that Andrew assists with the ongoing inquiry. If he is blameless, then he can clear his name.”

The lawmaker stated further: “And if not, our investigation will show that, and the affected individuals will receive much-delayed justice. The Royal Family’s actions stripping Andrew of his styles indicate there is additional to this situation.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king formally removed Mountbatten Windsor of his royal title. Charles III formally made the change – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “official document” which the crown office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.