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A US congressional committee probing sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he participate in a deposition as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s wrongdoings.

In a letter made public on Thursday, a US representative, the leading Democrat on the House investigative committee, urged that King Charles III’s brother assist with its inquiry.

The formal request to provide testimony follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his royal title and opted to surrender his rented residence in Windsor.

Documents and Claims

Mountbatten Windsor’s name is listed in papers and aviation records secured from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s survivors, the late Virginia Giuffre, of abuse.

“The committee will probe accusations of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek details on Epstein’s network, network, and connections based on the men’s longstanding and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a statement.

It requested particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his association with Epstein, who killed himself in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has always categorically denied any impropriety.

Content of the Communication

“It has been publicly reported that your association with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you remained close 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 residence, the Queen’s residence at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of abusing minors. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, combined with the freshly uncovered 2011 electronic correspondence in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our suspicion that you may have important details about the offenses committed by Mr Epstein and his partners in crime.”

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

Past Comments and Cooperation

The letter follows a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be summoned to testify before the committee. The citizens has the right to know who was assaulting women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”

However, the representative does not hold the authority to compel the former prince and Congress itself cannot oblige evidence from a foreign national.

In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor neglected to reply to US appeals for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that prosecutors and the FBI had reached out to Andrew’s attorneys to inquire on his public commitment that he was “ready to help any relevant 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 “given no cooperation”.

Calls for Transparency

The lawmaker said in a announcement that “rich and powerful men have avoided the law for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the opportunity to tell the truth and secure justice for the affected individuals. The committee will not halt pushing for answerability and openness for those affected of Epstein and his network of accomplices.”

Another signatory, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing accounts to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as media coverage of disclosed papers, “it is essential that Andrew cooperates with the current investigation. If he is not guilty, then he can clear his name.”

The lawmaker continued: “And if not, our examination will show that, and the affected individuals will receive belated accountability. The Royal Family’s actions removing Andrew of his styles show there is additional to this situation.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king officially revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his princely title. Charles III publicly made the change – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “letters patent” which the crown office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.