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A US congressional body investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he submit to an interview as part of its probe into Epstein’s wrongdoings.

In a document made public on Thursday, a California congressman, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, requested that King Charles III’s sibling cooperate with its investigation.

The official demand to answer questions arrives a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his HRH style and consented to vacate his rented residence in Windsor.

Records and Accusations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name appears in papers and travel logs secured from Epstein’s estate and disclosed by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of misconduct.

“The panel will probe accusations of wrongdoing by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request details on Epstein’s activities, circle, and accomplices based on the men’s longstanding and thoroughly recorded friendship,” the committee said in a statement.

It sought particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on particulars of his relationship with Epstein, who took his own life in a New York jail cell in 2019. Andrew has repeatedly vehemently rejected any impropriety.

Content of the Communication

“It has been documented that your association with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you stayed connected through and after his 2008 sentencing for soliciting minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It continued: “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 private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of harming minors. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, along with the recently revealed 2011 electronic correspondence in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further supports our concern that you may have important details about the offenses committed by Mr Epstein and his accomplices.”

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

Past Comments and Collaboration

The letter arrives a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be called to appear before the committee. The people should be able to know who was abusing women and underage individuals alongside Epstein.”

However, the representative does not possess the authority to compel the ex-royal and Congress itself cannot force testimony from a foreign national.

In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor failed to 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 contacted Andrew’s lawyers to check on his public commitment that he was “ready to help any suitable law enforcement agency”.

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

Appeals for Transparency

The lawmaker said in a comment that “affluent and influential men have evaded the law for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the option to be honest and provide redress for the victims. Oversight Democrats will not halt pushing for responsibility and transparency for those affected of Epstein and his gang of accomplices.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to accounts to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as media coverage of released files, “it is crucial that Andrew works together with the current investigation. If he is not guilty, then he can clear his name.”

The lawmaker added: “And if not, our probe will show that, and the survivors will receive much-delayed justice. The monarchy’s actions taking away Andrew of his styles show there is additional to this case.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king publicly stripped Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III formally made the adjustment – which had been announced a week ago – by issuing a “royal decree” which the crown office published in the Gazette, the UK’s government journal.