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A American legislative committee probing convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he participate in an interview as part of its probe into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a document made public on Thursday, a lawmaker, the leading Democrat on the House oversight committee, urged that King Charles III’s sibling assist with its inquiry.

The written appeal to provide testimony follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his royal title and consented to surrender his property in Windsor.

Documents and Accusations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in documents and flight logs secured from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.

“The oversight committee will examine accusations of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request details on Epstein’s activities, network, and connections based on the men’s longstanding and extensively reported friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

It sought details from Mountbatten Windsor on specifics of his friendship with Epstein, who took his own life in a New York jail cell in 2019. Andrew has repeatedly vehemently rejected any misconduct.

Content of the Request

“It has been widely reported that your friendship with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you stayed connected through and after his 2008 conviction for procuring minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It added: “It has also been reported that you journeyed with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s home at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s secluded island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been accused of assaulting young girls. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, along with the freshly uncovered 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our suspicion that you may have valuable information about the offenses committed by Mr Epstein and his accomplices.”

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

Previous Remarks and Assistance

The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be asked to testify before the oversight committee. The public should be able to know who was abusing women and young girls alongside Epstein.”

However, the lawmaker does not possess the power to subpoena the duke and Congress itself cannot force statements from a foreign national.

In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor neglected to respond to US demands 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 lawyers to check on his earlier promise that he was “prepared to help any relevant law enforcement agency”.

“It’s reasonable 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”.

Calls for Justice

The congressman said in a comment that “wealthy and well-connected 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. Oversight Democrats will not stop pushing for accountability and clarity for survivors of Epstein and his group of partners.”

Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to testimony to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as news accounts of disclosed papers, “it is vital that Andrew assists with the current investigation. If he is innocent, then he can clear his name.”

The lawmaker continued: “And if not, our probe will reveal that, and the victims will receive belated justice. The monarchy’s actions stripping Andrew of his titles indicate there is more to this situation.”

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