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A US congressional panel investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, requesting that he participate in an interview as part of its investigation into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a document made public on Thursday, a US representative, the leading Democrat on the House oversight panel, asked that King Charles III’s younger brother help with its probe.

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

Documents and Accusations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name appears in documents and aviation records obtained 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 sexual assault.

“The committee will investigate allegations of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will demand information on Epstein’s operations, associates, and associates based on the men’s enduring and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.

It sought particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his relationship with Epstein, who killed himself in a New York detention facility in 2019. Andrew has always categorically denied any misconduct.

Substance of the Request

“It has been publicly reported that your relationship with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 sentencing for procuring minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It stated further: “It has also been claimed that you traveled with Epstein to his New York property, the Queen’s residence at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been charged of abusing underage individuals. This intimate friendship with Mr Epstein, along with the freshly uncovered 2011 electronic correspondence in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further supports our concern that you may have valuable information about the offenses committed by Mr Epstein and his accomplices.”

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

Past Comments and Cooperation

The letter follows a week after another Democrat on the committee told: “Andrew should be summoned to appear before the oversight committee. The public should be able to know who was assaulting women and young girls alongside Epstein.”

However, the lawmaker does not have the authority to compel the former prince and Congress itself cannot compel statements from a foreign national.

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

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

Demands for Justice

The lawmaker said in a comment that “wealthy and powerful men have evaded justice for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the chance to tell the truth and provide justice for the victims. We will not halt pushing for responsibility and transparency for victims of Epstein and his network of co-conspirators.”

Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after receiving evidence to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as media coverage of leaked documents, “it is essential that Andrew assists with the active inquiry. If he is innocent, then he can vindicate himself.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our probe will demonstrate that, and the affected individuals will receive belated justice. The Royal Family’s actions taking away Andrew of his styles show there is more to this story.”

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