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A US congressional panel investigating sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, demanding that he submit to a deposition as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a letter made public on Thursday, a California congressman, the senior Democrat on the House oversight panel, urged that King Charles III’s sibling help with its inquiry.

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

Records and Accusations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in papers and flight logs obtained from Epstein’s estate and publicly released by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s survivors, the late Virginia Giuffre, of abuse.

“The panel will investigate allegations of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request data on Epstein’s network, associates, and connections based on the men’s long-term and extensively reported friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.

It demanded details from Mountbatten Windsor on particulars of his relationship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019. Andrew has always strongly denied any impropriety.

Substance of the Letter

“It has been documented that your friendship with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you continued associating through and after his 2008 conviction for soliciting minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It stated further: “It has also been reported that you traveled with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s estate at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s secluded island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of assaulting minors. This intimate friendship with Mr Epstein, combined with the recently revealed 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our concern that you may have key insights about the wrongdoings 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 demands a reply by 20 November.

Past Remarks and Assistance

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

However, the lawmaker does not hold the authority to compel the duke and Congress itself cannot oblige evidence from a non-US citizen.

In 2020, US agencies said that Mountbatten Windsor did not respond 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 inquire on his earlier promise 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 pledge,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “offered zero cooperation”.

Calls for Accountability

The congressman said in a statement that “affluent and influential men have evaded the law for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the opportunity to be honest and deliver accountability for the survivors. We will not stop pushing for answerability and openness for survivors of Epstein and his network of partners.”

Another signatory, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to evidence to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as public reporting of disclosed papers, “it is essential that Andrew cooperates with the ongoing inquiry. If he is blameless, then he can vindicate himself.”

The lawmaker stated further: “And if not, our probe will show that, and the affected individuals will receive belated redress. The Royal Family’s actions taking away Andrew of his titles indicate there is further to this situation.”

The letter came on the same day the British king officially revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III officially made the alteration – which had been declared a week ago – by issuing a “royal decree” which the crown office released in the Gazette, the UK’s public registry.