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A American legislative body investigating pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, requesting that he undergo a deposition as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a letter released on Thursday, a California congressman, the leading Democrat on the House oversight panel, urged that King Charles III’s younger brother cooperate with its probe.

The written appeal to respond to queries comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his HRH style and agreed to give up his rented residence in Windsor.

Files and Accusations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in documents and travel logs subpoenaed 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 sexual assault.

“The oversight committee will examine accusations of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will demand details on Epstein’s network, circle, and associates based on the men’s long-term and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a statement.

It demanded particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on specifics of his relationship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019. Andrew has consistently categorically denied any impropriety.

Substance of the Communication

“It has been documented that your relationship with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you continued associating through and after his 2008 guilty verdict for soliciting minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It stated further: “It has also been reported that you journeyed with Epstein to his New York home, the Queen’s estate at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been charged of harming young girls. This intimate friendship with Mr Epstein, along with the newly disclosed 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further supports our suspicion that you may have key insights about the crimes committed by Mr Epstein and his accomplices.”

A statement regarding the letter said it was supported by 13 other Democrats on the committee and asks a reply by 20 November.

Past Comments and Assistance

The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be summoned to testify before the committee. The people deserves to know who was abusing women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”

However, the representative does not hold the ability to legally require the former prince and Congress itself cannot oblige testimony from a non-US citizen.

In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor neglected to reply to US demands for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that prosecutors and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s legal team to check on his previous pledge that he was “ready to help any appropriate law enforcement agency”.

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

Appeals for Accountability

The congressman said in a announcement that “rich and influential men have avoided the law for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the chance to be honest and provide justice for the victims. We will not halt pushing for accountability and transparency for survivors of Epstein and his gang of co-conspirators.”

Another signatory, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing evidence to the committee from Epstein’s survivors, as well as news accounts of disclosed papers, “it is essential that Andrew cooperates with the active investigation. If he is blameless, then he can prove his innocence.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our examination will show that, and the victims will receive long overdue redress. The monarchy’s actions taking away Andrew of his honors indicate there is more to this story.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king formally removed Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III publicly made the alteration – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “royal decree” which the royal office released in the Gazette, the UK’s official public record.