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A American legislative panel probing sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, requesting that he participate in questioning as part of its probe into Epstein’s wrongdoings.

In a communication released on Thursday, a US representative, the leading Democrat on the House oversight panel, urged that King Charles III’s younger brother help with its investigation.

The formal request to respond to queries arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his HRH style and opted to give up his property in Windsor.

Files and Allegations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in papers and aviation records subpoenaed from Epstein’s estate and publicly released by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of misconduct.

“The oversight committee will probe allegations of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek information on Epstein’s activities, network, and accomplices based on the men’s enduring and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.

It sought information from Mountbatten Windsor on particulars of his friendship with Epstein, who took his own life in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has always vehemently rejected any wrongdoing.

Substance of the Letter

“It has been widely reported that your association with Mr Epstein started in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 sentencing for trafficking underage girls for sex work,” the letter said.

It added: “It has also been alleged that you journeyed with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s residence at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s secluded island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been accused of abusing minors. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, combined with the freshly uncovered 2011 electronic correspondence in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further confirms our concern that you may have important details about the wrongdoings committed by Mr Epstein and his accomplices.”

A statement regarding the letter said it was endorsed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and requests a reply by 20 November.

Previous Comments and Cooperation

The letter comes a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be called to testify before the oversight committee. The public has the right to know who was assaulting women and minors alongside Epstein.”

However, the lawmaker does not possess the power to subpoena the former prince and Congress itself cannot oblige evidence from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US agencies said that Mountbatten Windsor did not reply to US requests for an discussion. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that prosecutors and the FBI had approached Andrew’s attorneys to inquire on his earlier promise that he was “ready to help any appropriate law enforcement agency”.

“It’s fair for people to know whether Prince Andrew has honored with that public commitment,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “offered absolutely no cooperation”.

Appeals for Transparency

The lawmaker said in a comment that “rich and well-connected men have escaped accountability for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the chance to be honest and provide accountability for the survivors. Oversight Democrats will not stop fighting for responsibility and clarity for survivors of Epstein and his network of partners.”

Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing testimony to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as public reporting of leaked documents, “it is crucial that Andrew works together with the ongoing investigation. If he is not guilty, then he can clear his name.”

The lawmaker continued: “And if not, our investigation will demonstrate that, and the affected individuals will receive much-delayed accountability. The Royal Family’s actions removing Andrew of his titles show there is further to this case.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king officially removed 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 royal office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s official public record.