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A US congressional panel looking into pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has sent a letter to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he submit to an interview as part of its investigation into Epstein’s wrongdoings.

In a letter released on Thursday, a California congressman, the leading Democrat on the House oversight committee, requested that King Charles III’s brother assist with its investigation.

The written appeal to answer questions comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was stripped of his princely title and opted to vacate his leased home in Windsor.

Files and Claims

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in records and aviation records secured from Epstein’s estate and publicly released by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s survivors, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.

“The oversight committee will investigate claims of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek details on Epstein’s activities, circle, and connections based on the men’s long-term and extensively reported friendship,” the committee said in a statement.

It sought details from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his association with Epstein, who took his own life in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has repeatedly strongly denied any wrongdoing.

Content of the Communication

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

It stated further: “It has also been reported that you journeyed with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s residence at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s secluded island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of abusing minors. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, combined with the recently revealed 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further confirms our concern that you may have valuable information about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”

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

Past Statements and Collaboration

The letter follows a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be asked to appear before the committee. The people should be able to know who was abusing women and young girls alongside Epstein.”

However, the congressman does not hold the power to legally require the former prince and Congress itself cannot force statements from a foreign national.

In 2020, US officials 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 prosecutors and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s lawyers to check on his previous pledge that he was “ready to help any suitable law enforcement agency”.

“It’s reasonable for people to know whether Prince Andrew has fulfilled with that assurance,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “given no cooperation”.

Demands for Justice

The congressman said in a announcement that “rich and influential men have avoided justice for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the option to come clean and provide justice for the affected individuals. We will not stop advocating for accountability and clarity for those affected of Epstein and his network of co-conspirators.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to evidence to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as public reporting of released files, “it is vital that Andrew works together with the current probe. If he is innocent, then he can prove his innocence.”

The lawmaker stated further: “And if not, our examination will reveal that, and the victims will receive much-delayed justice. The Royal Family’s actions removing Andrew of his titles indicate there is additional to this situation.”

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