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A US congressional committee looking into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has sent a letter to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, demanding that he undergo a deposition as part of its inquiry into Epstein’s wrongdoings.

In a document published on Thursday, a US representative, the leading Democrat on the House oversight panel, asked that King Charles III’s brother assist with its probe.

The official demand to answer questions comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was lost his princely title and opted to vacate his property in Windsor.

Records and Accusations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in documents and travel logs secured from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s accusers, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.

“The committee will investigate claims of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request details on Epstein’s network, associates, and accomplices based on the men’s long-term and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

It demanded information 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 always categorically denied any impropriety.

Details of the Letter

“It has been documented that your friendship with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 conviction for soliciting minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It added: “It has also been reported that you went with Epstein to his New York home, the Queen’s estate at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of abusing minors. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, combined with the freshly uncovered 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our suspicion 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 answer by 20 November.

Previous Comments and Cooperation

The letter arrives a week after another Democrat on the committee told: “Andrew should be summoned to appear before the oversight committee. The citizens should be able to know who was assaulting women and minors alongside Epstein.”

However, the lawmaker does not have the ability to compel the ex-royal and Congress itself cannot compel testimony from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor did not reply to US requests for an meeting. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that prosecutors and the FBI had reached out to Andrew’s legal team to follow up on his earlier promise that he was “ready to help any appropriate law enforcement agency”.

“It’s reasonable for people to know whether Prince Andrew has fulfilled with that public commitment,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “provided zero cooperation”.

Demands for Accountability

The congressman said in a announcement that “wealthy and powerful men have evaded accountability for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the option to come clean and deliver accountability for the survivors. We will not cease advocating for responsibility and clarity for those affected of Epstein and his network of partners.”

Another signatory, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing testimony to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as media coverage of leaked documents, “it is vital that Andrew assists with the ongoing investigation. If he is blameless, then he can prove his innocence.”

The lawmaker stated further: “And if not, our probe will demonstrate that, and the affected individuals will receive belated redress. The royal household’s actions removing Andrew of his titles suggest there is more to this situation.”

The letter came on the same day the British king publicly revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his royal title. Charles III officially made the adjustment – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “royal decree” which the royal office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s public registry.