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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 participate in an interview as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a communication made public on Thursday, a US representative, the top Democrat on the House investigative committee, asked that King Charles III’s younger brother cooperate with its investigation.

The official demand to answer questions comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his HRH style and consented to vacate his property in Windsor.

Documents and Accusations

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

“The oversight committee will probe claims of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will demand details on Epstein’s network, network, and accomplices based on the men’s long-term and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a statement.

It demanded information from Mountbatten Windsor on particulars of his association with Epstein, who took his own life in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has always vehemently rejected any misconduct.

Details of the Communication

“It has been publicly reported that your relationship with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you stayed connected through and after his 2008 sentencing for procuring minors for commercial sex acts,” the letter said.

It continued: “It has also been claimed that you went with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s home at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s personal island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of abusing underage individuals. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, coupled with the recently revealed 2011 digital communication 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 co-conspirators.”

A statement regarding the letter said it was co-signed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and demands a answer by 20 November.

Past Statements and Assistance

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

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

In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor failed to respond to US appeals for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that authorities and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s legal team to inquire on his public commitment that he was “ready to help any relevant law enforcement agency”.

“It’s just for people to know whether Prince Andrew has honored with that public commitment,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “provided zero cooperation”.

Demands for Accountability

The congressman said in a statement that “rich and well-connected men have avoided justice for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the chance to tell the truth and provide accountability for the survivors. We will not cease pushing for accountability and transparency for victims of Epstein and his network of co-conspirators.”

Another signatory, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing evidence to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as media coverage of disclosed papers, “it is vital that Andrew assists with the current inquiry. If he is innocent, then he can vindicate himself.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our probe will demonstrate that, and the survivors will receive long overdue justice. The Royal Family’s actions taking away Andrew of his honors show there is further to this situation.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king officially revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III officially made the change – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “official document” which the monarch’s office released in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.