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A American legislative body probing convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, demanding that he undergo an interview as part of its investigation into Epstein’s illegal activities.

In a letter released on Thursday, a California congressman, the senior Democrat on the House oversight panel, requested that King Charles III’s sibling cooperate with its probe.

The official demand to answer questions comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his royal title and consented to give up his property in Windsor.

Records and Allegations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name appears in records and travel logs subpoenaed from Epstein’s estate and made public by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.

“The oversight committee will probe claims of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek information on Epstein’s operations, circle, and connections based on the men’s enduring and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.

It requested particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his relationship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has repeatedly strongly denied any impropriety.

Details of the Letter

“It has been publicly reported that your association with Mr Epstein started in 1999 and that you continued associating through and after his 2008 conviction for soliciting minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It added: “It has also been claimed that you went with Epstein to his New York property, the Queen’s estate at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been charged of abusing minors. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, along with the freshly uncovered 2011 electronic correspondence in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further supports our concern that you may have key insights about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his partners in crime.”

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

Previous Comments and Cooperation

The letter follows a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be called to give evidence before the oversight committee. The people deserves to know who was abusing women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”

However, the representative does not possess the ability to compel the ex-royal and Congress itself cannot compel testimony from a non-US citizen.

In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor did not cooperate to US demands for an meeting. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that authorities and the FBI had approached Andrew’s lawyers to inquire on his previous pledge that he was “ready to help any relevant law enforcement agency”.

“It’s reasonable 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”.

Appeals for Transparency

The representative said in a announcement that “rich and influential men have avoided accountability for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the opportunity to tell the truth and deliver redress for the victims. The committee will not stop pushing for responsibility and clarity for those affected of Epstein and his group of accomplices.”

Another signatory, a Virginia Democrat, said that after receiving evidence to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as public reporting of disclosed papers, “it is vital that Andrew cooperates with the current probe. If he is innocent, then he can vindicate himself.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our investigation will demonstrate that, and the affected individuals will receive belated justice. The Royal Family’s actions removing Andrew of his titles indicate there is more to this case.”

The letter came on the same day the British king officially revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III officially made the alteration – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “letters patent” which the royal office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.