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A American legislative panel investigating sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, requesting that he submit to a deposition as part of its investigation into Epstein’s wrongdoings.

In a communication released on Thursday, a US representative, the senior Democrat on the House oversight committee, asked that King Charles III’s sibling assist with its inquiry.

The formal request to provide testimony follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his royal title and opted to vacate his leased home in Windsor.

Files and Accusations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in papers and flight logs secured from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been alleged by one of Epstein’s survivors, the late Virginia Giuffre, of abuse.

“The committee will examine claims of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request information on Epstein’s activities, circle, and associates based on the men’s long-term and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

It requested particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on specifics of his relationship with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York detention facility in 2019. Andrew has repeatedly categorically denied any wrongdoing.

Details of the Communication

“It has been publicly reported that your relationship with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 guilty verdict for trafficking underage girls for sex work,” the letter said.

It added: “It has also been alleged that you traveled with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s home at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s personal island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of abusing minors. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, along 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 valuable information about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his partners in crime.”

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

Earlier Comments and Cooperation

The letter follows a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be called to appear before the committee. The citizens deserves to know who was harming women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”

However, the representative does not possess the ability to compel the duke and Congress itself cannot oblige statements from a foreign national.

In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor neglected to respond to US appeals for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that prosecutors and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s lawyers to follow up on his public commitment that he was “ready to help any suitable law enforcement agency”.

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

Calls for Transparency

The congressman said in a comment that “wealthy and influential men have avoided the law for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the opportunity to tell the truth and secure accountability for the victims. The committee will not halt pushing for accountability and openness for survivors of Epstein and his network of accomplices.”

Another signatory, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing evidence to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as news accounts of disclosed papers, “it is crucial that Andrew cooperates with the current probe. If he is not guilty, then he can clear his name.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our examination will demonstrate that, and the affected individuals will receive long overdue accountability. The royal household’s actions removing Andrew of his honors indicate there is additional to this story.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king officially revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his princely title. Charles III formally made the adjustment – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “letters patent” which the royal office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s public registry.