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A US congressional panel looking into pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, requesting that he undergo an interview as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s illegal activities.

In a document made public on Thursday, a lawmaker, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, asked that King Charles III’s younger brother assist with its investigation.

The written appeal to answer questions follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his royal title and opted to give up his leased home in Windsor.

Records and Allegations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in documents and flight logs obtained from Epstein’s estate and made public by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of abuse.

“The committee will probe accusations of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request data on Epstein’s activities, network, and connections based on the men’s long-term and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.

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 always categorically denied any misconduct.

Substance of the Communication

“It has been documented that your relationship with Mr Epstein started in 1999 and that you stayed connected through and after his 2008 sentencing for procuring minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It stated further: “It has also been claimed that you journeyed with Epstein to his New York property, the Queen’s estate at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been charged of abusing underage individuals. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, combined with the freshly uncovered 2011 email exchange in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further supports our suspicion that you may have valuable information about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his accomplices.”

A notification regarding the letter said it was endorsed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and asks a response by 20 November.

Previous Statements and Cooperation

The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee told: “Andrew should be summoned to testify before the oversight committee. The people should be able to know who was assaulting women and minors alongside Epstein.”

However, the representative does not hold the ability to subpoena the duke and Congress itself cannot force evidence from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US agencies said that Mountbatten Windsor failed to reply to US appeals for an meeting. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that lawyers and the FBI had reached out to Andrew’s legal team to inquire on his public commitment that he was “willing to help any relevant law enforcement agency”.

“It’s just for people to know whether Prince Andrew has honored with that pledge,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “provided no cooperation”.

Calls for Justice

The representative said in a announcement that “affluent and powerful men have avoided the law for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the option to tell the truth and provide justice for the affected individuals. We will not cease pushing for accountability and openness for survivors of Epstein and his gang of partners.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to testimony to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as news accounts of released files, “it is vital that Andrew cooperates with the ongoing probe. If he is blameless, then he can vindicate himself.”

The lawmaker continued: “And if not, our probe will show that, and the affected individuals will receive belated justice. The Royal Family’s actions stripping Andrew of his titles indicate there is additional to this case.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king formally removed Mountbatten Windsor of his princely title. Charles III formally made the change – which had been declared a week ago – by issuing a “royal decree” which the royal office published in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.