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A US congressional panel probing convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, requesting that he participate in an interview as part of its investigation into Epstein’s illegal activities.

In a document published on Thursday, a lawmaker, the leading Democrat on the House oversight committee, urged that King Charles III’s brother help with its probe.

The formal request to answer questions follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his royal title and opted to vacate his property in Windsor.

Files and Claims

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in papers and aviation records secured from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been accused by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of misconduct.

“The committee will probe allegations of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request information on Epstein’s activities, circle, and connections based on the men’s longstanding and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.

It requested information from Mountbatten Windsor on particulars of his association with Epstein, who took his own life in a New York jail cell in 2019. Andrew has repeatedly categorically denied any wrongdoing.

Details of the Request

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

It added: “It has also been claimed that you went 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 alleged of harming minors. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, along with the freshly uncovered 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our concern that you may have valuable information about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his accomplices.”

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

Past Statements and Cooperation

The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be summoned to appear 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 power to subpoena the ex-royal and Congress itself cannot compel evidence from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US agencies said that Mountbatten Windsor did not reply to US requests for an meeting. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that lawyers and the FBI had approached 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 zero cooperation”.

Calls for Accountability

The congressman said in a announcement that “rich and well-connected men have escaped accountability for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the opportunity to come clean and deliver accountability for the survivors. We will not halt advocating for answerability and transparency for those affected of Epstein and his network of partners.”

Another signatory, a Virginia Democrat, said that after receiving accounts to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as media coverage of leaked documents, “it is crucial that Andrew assists with the active investigation. If he is not guilty, then he can clear his name.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our probe will demonstrate that, and the affected individuals will receive much-delayed redress. The monarchy’s actions stripping Andrew of his honors suggest there is additional to this situation.”

The letter was sent on the same day the British king officially removed Mountbatten Windsor of his royal title. Charles III publicly made the change – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “official document” which the royal office released in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.