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A American legislative panel probing pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he undergo an interview as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a communication made public on Thursday, a lawmaker, the senior Democrat on the House investigative committee, requested that King Charles III’s brother cooperate with its inquiry.

The official demand to respond to queries follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was stripped of his princely title and consented to surrender his property in Windsor.

Documents and Allegations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in documents and flight logs obtained from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s accusers, the late Virginia Giuffre, of misconduct.

“The oversight committee will examine allegations of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will demand data on Epstein’s network, network, and associates based on the men’s long-term and extensively reported friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

It sought details from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his friendship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York detention facility in 2019. Andrew has repeatedly strongly denied any misconduct.

Content of the Letter

“It has been widely reported that your association with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 sentencing for soliciting minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It added: “It has also been claimed that you went with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s estate at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s personal island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been charged of assaulting minors. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, coupled with the freshly uncovered 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further confirms our concern that you may have important details about the crimes committed by Mr Epstein and his accomplices.”

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

Past Comments and Collaboration

The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee told: “Andrew should be called to give evidence before the committee. The public should be able to know who was harming women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”

However, the representative does not possess the power to subpoena the ex-royal and Congress itself cannot oblige evidence from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US officials 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 prosecutors and the FBI had approached Andrew’s lawyers to follow up on his public commitment that he was “prepared to help any suitable law enforcement agency”.

“It’s fair for people to know whether Prince Andrew has followed through with that assurance,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “offered no cooperation”.

Calls for Accountability

The congressman said in a announcement that “rich and powerful men have escaped the law for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the chance to come clean and secure redress for the affected individuals. The committee will not halt advocating for accountability and clarity for those affected of Epstein and his group of accomplices.”

Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing evidence to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as news accounts of released files, “it is vital that Andrew works together with the ongoing investigation. If he is blameless, then he can clear his name.”

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

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