Congressional Panel Asks for Deposition with Andrew in Epstein Probe

A US congressional panel probing sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he submit to a deposition as part of its probe into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a communication published on Thursday, a California congressman, the leading Democrat on the House oversight panel, urged that King Charles III’s sibling cooperate with its probe.

The official demand to respond to queries comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his princely title and opted to surrender his rented residence in Windsor.

Documents and Claims

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in documents and aviation records secured from Epstein’s estate and publicly released by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of abuse.

“The oversight committee will investigate allegations of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek details on Epstein’s activities, associates, and associates based on the men’s enduring and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

It demanded details from Mountbatten Windsor on particulars of his association with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York detention facility in 2019. Andrew has repeatedly categorically denied any impropriety.

Details of the Request

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

It stated further: “It has also been reported that you journeyed with Epstein to his New York property, the Queen’s home at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s secluded island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of harming minors. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, combined with the freshly uncovered 2011 electronic correspondence in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further confirms our suspicion that you may have valuable information about the crimes committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”

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

Past Remarks and Collaboration

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

However, the congressman does not have the ability to subpoena the former prince and Congress itself cannot force statements from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor did not cooperate to US appeals for an discussion. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that authorities and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s attorneys to inquire on his public commitment that he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency”.

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

Appeals for Accountability

The congressman said in a announcement that “rich and influential men have evaded justice for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the opportunity to come clean and deliver redress for the victims. The committee will not halt pushing for accountability and clarity for those affected of Epstein and his group of co-conspirators.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to evidence to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as news accounts of released files, “it is vital that Andrew assists with the current inquiry. If he is innocent, then he can prove his innocence.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our examination will show that, and the survivors will receive long overdue justice. The monarchy’s actions taking away Andrew of his titles suggest there is additional to this situation.”

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