House Committee Seeks Deposition with the Duke of York in Epstein Probe
A American legislative committee investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, requesting that he participate in an interview as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s wrongdoings.
In a document released on Thursday, a lawmaker, the leading Democrat on the House oversight panel, asked that King Charles III’s younger brother assist with its probe.
The formal request to answer questions arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his HRH style and agreed to vacate his leased home in Windsor.
Documents and Accusations
Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in papers and aviation records secured from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s survivors, the late Virginia Giuffre, of misconduct.
“The oversight committee will investigate allegations of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request information on Epstein’s operations, associates, and connections based on the men’s enduring and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a press release.
It demanded particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his association with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has consistently strongly denied any misconduct.
Content of the Communication
“It has been documented that your association with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you stayed connected through and after his 2008 conviction for trafficking underage girls for prostitution,” the letter said.
It continued: “It has also been claimed that you went 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 assaulting young girls. This intimate friendship with Mr Epstein, combined with the recently revealed 2011 electronic correspondence in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our belief that you may have valuable information about the offenses committed by Mr Epstein and his partners in crime.”
A notification regarding the letter said it was supported by 13 other Democrats on the committee and asks a reply by 20 November.
Previous Comments and Assistance
The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be asked to appear before the panel. The citizens should be able to know who was abusing women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”
However, the lawmaker does not possess the power to subpoena the ex-royal and Congress itself cannot force evidence from a non-US citizen.
In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor did not respond to US requests for an discussion. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that prosecutors and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s attorneys to check on his public commitment that he was “prepared to help any appropriate law enforcement agency”.
“It’s just for people to know whether Prince Andrew has followed through with that pledge,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “given absolutely no cooperation”.
Calls for Justice
The lawmaker said in a comment that “wealthy and well-connected men have avoided justice for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the chance to be honest and provide accountability for the affected individuals. The committee will not halt advocating for accountability and openness for survivors of Epstein and his group of co-conspirators.”
Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing evidence to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as news accounts of leaked documents, “it is crucial that Andrew assists with the current investigation. If he is not guilty, then he can clear his name.”
The lawmaker stated further: “And if not, our examination will reveal that, and the affected individuals will receive belated justice. The monarchy’s actions stripping Andrew of his honors show there is further to this story.”
The letter was issued on the same day the British king publicly removed Mountbatten Windsor of his royal title. Charles III formally made the change – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “official document” which the royal office released in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.