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A American legislative body looking into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has sent a letter to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, requesting that he participate in questioning as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a communication made public on Thursday, a lawmaker, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, urged that King Charles III’s brother cooperate with its investigation.

The formal request to respond to queries arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his princely title and consented to vacate his rented residence in Windsor.

Records and Allegations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in papers and aviation records subpoenaed 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 abuse.

“The panel will investigate accusations of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request information on Epstein’s activities, circle, and accomplices based on the men’s longstanding and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.

It sought details from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his friendship with Epstein, who took his own life in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has consistently categorically denied any misconduct.

Details of the Letter

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

It added: “It has also been reported that you traveled with Epstein to his New York property, the Queen’s estate at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of assaulting minors. 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 confirms our belief that you may have key insights 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.

Previous Statements and Cooperation

The letter arrives a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be summoned to appear before the panel. The people should be able to know who was abusing women and young girls alongside Epstein.”

However, the congressman does not hold the power to compel the former prince and Congress itself cannot compel statements from a non-US citizen.

In 2020, US agencies said that Mountbatten Windsor failed to cooperate to US demands for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that prosecutors and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s attorneys to inquire on his public commitment that he was “ready to help any suitable law enforcement agency”.

“It’s reasonable 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”.

Appeals for Accountability

The lawmaker said in a announcement that “affluent and influential men have evaded the law for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the chance to tell the truth and secure redress for the affected individuals. The committee will not cease fighting for responsibility and transparency for those affected of Epstein and his group of co-conspirators.”

Another signatory, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing accounts to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as public reporting of released files, “it is crucial that Andrew assists with the active probe. If he is innocent, then he can vindicate himself.”

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

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