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A US congressional panel probing convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has sent a letter to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he undergo questioning as part of its investigation into Epstein’s criminal operations.

In a document released on Thursday, a lawmaker, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, asked that King Charles III’s younger brother assist with its investigation.

The official demand to provide testimony arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his royal title and agreed to vacate his rented residence in Windsor.

Documents and Allegations

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

“The panel will examine claims of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will demand data on Epstein’s network, circle, and accomplices based on the men’s long-term and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a announcement.

It requested information from Mountbatten Windsor on particulars of his relationship with Epstein, who killed himself in a New York jail cell in 2019. Andrew has repeatedly strongly denied any misconduct.

Details of the Communication

“It has been widely reported that your friendship with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you continued associating through and after his 2008 sentencing for procuring minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It added: “It has also been alleged that you traveled with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s residence at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s personal island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of assaulting minors. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, along with the newly disclosed 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further confirms our concern that you may have important details about the crimes committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”

A announcement regarding the letter said it was co-signed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and asks a response by 20 November.

Past Statements and Collaboration

The letter follows a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be asked to testify before the panel. The public has the right to know who was harming women and young girls alongside Epstein.”

However, the representative does not have the authority to compel the ex-royal and Congress itself cannot force statements from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US agencies said that Mountbatten Windsor did not cooperate to US demands for an meeting. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that lawyers and the FBI had reached out to Andrew’s lawyers to follow up on his previous pledge that he was “willing to help any suitable 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 “provided zero cooperation”.

Appeals for Justice

The representative said in a statement that “rich and powerful men have evaded justice for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the opportunity to tell the truth and provide accountability for the affected individuals. We will not stop pushing for accountability and transparency for survivors of Epstein and his gang of co-conspirators.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing accounts to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as news accounts of leaked documents, “it is essential that Andrew assists with the ongoing inquiry. If he is innocent, then he can clear his name.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our investigation will reveal that, and the survivors will receive long overdue accountability. The royal household’s actions stripping Andrew of his styles suggest there is further to this case.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king publicly removed Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III officially made the adjustment – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “official document” which the royal office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s official public record.