Congressional Panel Asks for Deposition with the Duke of York in Epstein Probe
A US congressional committee investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has sent a letter to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he participate in a deposition as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s illegal activities.
In a letter published on Thursday, a lawmaker, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, urged that King Charles III’s sibling help with its investigation.
The written appeal to provide testimony comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was stripped of his HRH style and opted to vacate his property in Windsor.
Records and Accusations
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 accused by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of misconduct.
“The oversight committee will examine claims of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek data on Epstein’s activities, circle, and accomplices based on the men’s long-term and extensively reported friendship,” the committee said in a statement.
It sought particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on specifics of his relationship with Epstein, who took his own life in a New York jail cell in 2019. Andrew has consistently vehemently rejected any wrongdoing.
Content of the Letter
“It has been documented that your relationship with Mr Epstein started in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 sentencing for trafficking underage girls for prostitution,” the letter said.
It stated further: “It has also been claimed that you traveled with Epstein to his New York home, 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 young girls. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, along with the newly disclosed 2011 electronic correspondence in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further supports our suspicion that you may have key insights about the offenses committed by Mr Epstein and his accomplices.”
A announcement regarding the letter said it was co-signed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and demands a response by 20 November.
Past Remarks and Collaboration
The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be asked to testify before the panel. The people should be able to know who was abusing women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”
However, the representative does not have the authority to subpoena the former prince and Congress itself cannot compel evidence from a non-US citizen.
In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor did not cooperate to US requests for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that authorities and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s lawyers to check on his public commitment that he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency”.
“It’s fair for people to know whether Prince Andrew has fulfilled with that assurance,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “given absolutely no cooperation”.
Demands for Transparency
The lawmaker said in a statement that “wealthy and powerful men have evaded justice for far too long. Now, ex- Prince Andrew has the opportunity to be honest and secure justice for the survivors. Oversight Democrats will not halt pushing for accountability and clarity for survivors of Epstein and his gang of accomplices.”
Another signatory, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing evidence to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as media coverage of leaked documents, “it is crucial that Andrew works together with the ongoing inquiry. If he is blameless, then he can vindicate himself.”
The lawmaker stated further: “And if not, our probe will show that, and the affected individuals will receive much-delayed accountability. The Royal Family’s actions stripping Andrew of his titles indicate there is additional to this situation.”
The letter came on the same day the British king publicly revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III formally made the change – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “letters patent” which the monarch’s office released in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.
