Congressional Committee Asks for Deposition with the Duke of York in Jeffrey Epstein Inquiry

A American legislative committee probing convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, requesting that he submit to questioning as part of its probe into Epstein’s wrongdoings.

In a letter published on Thursday, a US representative, the leading Democrat on the House oversight committee, urged that King Charles III’s sibling assist with its probe.

The written appeal to respond to queries arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his princely title and consented to surrender his property in Windsor.

Records and Allegations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name is listed in papers and flight logs secured from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s survivors, the late Virginia Giuffre, of misconduct.

“The oversight committee will investigate accusations of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request information on Epstein’s network, circle, and associates based on the men’s long-term and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

It sought particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on specifics of his relationship with Epstein, who killed himself in a New York jail cell in 2019. Andrew has consistently categorically denied any wrongdoing.

Details of the Request

“It has been documented that your friendship with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 guilty verdict for soliciting minors for sex work,” the letter said.

It continued: “It has also been alleged 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 accused of assaulting minors. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, combined with the recently revealed 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further confirms our concern that you may have valuable information about the crimes committed by Mr Epstein and his accomplices.”

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

Past Comments and Collaboration

The letter arrives a week after another Democrat on the committee told: “Andrew should be asked to appear before the committee. The public deserves to know who was assaulting women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”

However, the representative does not hold the ability to subpoena the ex-royal and Congress itself cannot compel statements from a foreign national.

In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor neglected to respond to US demands for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that lawyers and the FBI had approached Andrew’s lawyers to inquire on his previous pledge that he was “prepared 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 “provided zero cooperation”.

Calls for Transparency

The representative said in a statement that “rich and influential men have evaded accountability for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the opportunity to come clean and deliver accountability for the affected individuals. We will not halt advocating for responsibility and clarity for victims of Epstein and his gang of accomplices.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing testimony to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as news accounts of leaked documents, “it is essential that Andrew cooperates with the current inquiry. If he is blameless, then he can prove his innocence.”

The lawmaker continued: “And if not, our examination will demonstrate that, and the affected individuals will receive belated accountability. The monarchy’s actions taking away Andrew of his honors suggest there is additional to this situation.”

The letter was sent on the same day the British king officially stripped Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III publicly made the alteration – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “letters patent” which the royal office released in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.