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A US congressional committee probing sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, once Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he participate in a deposition as part of its probe into Epstein’s criminal operations.

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

The official demand to answer questions follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his royal title and consented to vacate his rented residence in Windsor.

Documents and Allegations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in records and travel logs obtained from Epstein’s estate and made public by the committee. He has also been accused by one of Epstein’s accusers, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.

“The panel will examine claims of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek information on Epstein’s activities, associates, and associates based on the men’s longstanding and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a press release.

It sought details from Mountbatten Windsor on particulars of his association with Epstein, who took his own life in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has always strongly denied any impropriety.

Substance of the Communication

“It has been publicly reported that your association with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you stayed connected through and after his 2008 conviction for procuring minors for commercial sex acts,” 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 private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of assaulting underage individuals. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, combined with the newly disclosed 2011 electronic correspondence 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 co-conspirators.”

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 Cooperation

The letter arrives a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be called to appear before the oversight committee. The people has the right to know who was assaulting women and young girls alongside Epstein.”

However, the representative does not have the ability to compel the former prince and Congress itself cannot force statements from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor did not cooperate to US demands for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that authorities and the FBI had reached out to Andrew’s attorneys to follow up on his earlier promise that he was “willing to help any relevant law enforcement agency”.

“It’s reasonable for people to know whether Prince Andrew has followed through with that pledge,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “offered absolutely no cooperation”.

Demands for Justice

The congressman said in a statement that “affluent and powerful men have evaded justice for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the opportunity to tell the truth and secure accountability for the victims. Oversight Democrats will not halt advocating for accountability and transparency for those affected of Epstein and his gang of partners.”

Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to accounts to the committee from Epstein’s victims, as well as news accounts of leaked documents, “it is crucial that Andrew assists with the current probe. If he is innocent, then he can vindicate himself.”

The lawmaker stated further: “And if not, our investigation will demonstrate that, and the victims will receive long overdue accountability. The monarchy’s actions taking away Andrew of his honors indicate there is more to this situation.”

The letter was sent on the same day the British king officially stripped Mountbatten Windsor of his royal title. Charles III publicly 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 public registry.