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A American legislative committee looking into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, demanding that he participate in questioning as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a communication released on Thursday, a California congressman, the top Democrat on the House investigative committee, urged that King Charles III’s younger brother cooperate with its inquiry.

The formal request to respond to queries follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his HRH style and consented to give up his leased home in Windsor.

Records and Allegations

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

“The oversight committee will investigate allegations of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek data on Epstein’s network, circle, and associates based on the men’s long-term and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

It sought information from Mountbatten Windsor on particulars of his friendship with Epstein, who took his own life in a New York detention facility in 2019. Andrew has consistently strongly denied any wrongdoing.

Details of the Request

“It has been widely reported that your association with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 conviction for procuring minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It continued: “It has also been claimed that you went with Epstein to his New York home, the Queen’s home at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of abusing minors. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, coupled with the recently revealed 2011 email exchange in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further confirms 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 co-signed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and asks a response by 20 November.

Previous Statements and Assistance

The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be called to give evidence before the panel. The public should be able to know who was assaulting women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”

However, the congressman does not possess the ability to compel the ex-royal and Congress itself cannot force evidence from a foreign national.

In 2020, US agencies said that Mountbatten Windsor neglected to cooperate to US appeals for an discussion. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that lawyers and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s lawyers to inquire on his earlier promise that he was “prepared to help any suitable law enforcement agency”.

“It’s just for people to know whether Prince Andrew has fulfilled with that pledge,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “offered zero cooperation”.

Appeals for Transparency

The lawmaker said in a statement that “wealthy and powerful men have avoided accountability for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the option to be honest and provide redress for the affected individuals. The committee will not cease fighting for responsibility and clarity for survivors of Epstein and his gang of partners.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing evidence to the committee from Epstein’s survivors, as well as public reporting of disclosed papers, “it is crucial that Andrew cooperates with the ongoing inquiry. If he is innocent, then he can vindicate himself.”

The lawmaker continued: “And if not, our examination will reveal that, and the affected individuals will receive long overdue redress. The Royal Family’s actions stripping Andrew of his honors show there is further to this case.”

The letter came on the same day the British king officially revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his princely title. Charles III formally made the change – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “official document” which the crown office released in the Gazette, the UK’s public registry.