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A American legislative committee looking into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he submit to an interview as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a document released on Thursday, a California congressman, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, urged that King Charles III’s sibling assist with its investigation.

The written appeal to answer questions follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his HRH style and opted to vacate his leased home in Windsor.

Files and Allegations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name appears in documents and aviation records obtained from Epstein’s estate and publicly released by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of abuse.

“The oversight committee will examine accusations of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek data on Epstein’s operations, network, and associates based on the men’s longstanding and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

It demanded particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his friendship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York detention facility in 2019. Andrew has consistently vehemently rejected any wrongdoing.

Details of the Letter

“It has been documented that your relationship with Mr Epstein started in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 conviction for soliciting minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It added: “It has also been alleged that you traveled with Epstein to his New York property, the Queen’s estate at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s secluded island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been charged of assaulting young girls. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, combined with the recently revealed 2011 email exchange in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further supports our suspicion that you may have important details about the offenses committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”

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 Collaboration

The letter follows a week after another Democrat on the committee told: “Andrew should be summoned to give evidence before the panel. The people has the right to know who was harming women and minors alongside Epstein.”

However, the lawmaker does not possess the authority to compel the duke and Congress itself cannot compel evidence from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US agencies said that Mountbatten Windsor neglected to cooperate to US demands for an meeting. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that authorities and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s attorneys to inquire on his public commitment that he was “willing to help any appropriate 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 zero cooperation”.

Appeals for Transparency

The representative said in a comment that “rich and powerful men have escaped justice for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the chance to be honest and secure accountability for the victims. We will not stop pushing for accountability and openness for survivors of Epstein and his network of accomplices.”

Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to testimony to the committee from Epstein’s survivors, as well as public reporting of disclosed papers, “it is essential that Andrew works together with the current probe. If he is blameless, then he can prove his innocence.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our probe will show that, and the affected individuals will receive much-delayed justice. The monarchy’s actions taking away Andrew of his honors indicate there is additional to this case.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king officially stripped Mountbatten Windsor of his princely title. Charles III publicly made the adjustment – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “letters patent” which the monarch’s office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s public registry.