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A American legislative panel probing convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has formally written to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, asking that he submit to a deposition as part of its investigation into Epstein’s illegal activities.

In a document released on Thursday, a California congressman, the senior Democrat on the House oversight committee, requested that King Charles III’s brother cooperate with its investigation.

The written appeal to answer questions follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his princely title and consented to give up his property in Windsor.

Documents and Allegations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name features in records and flight logs secured from Epstein’s estate and made public by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s victims, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.

“The committee will investigate accusations of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request information on Epstein’s operations, circle, and associates based on the men’s longstanding and well-documented friendship,” the committee said in a statement.

It requested details from Mountbatten Windsor on details of his friendship with Epstein, who killed himself in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has always vehemently rejected any impropriety.

Substance of the Request

“It has been widely reported that your friendship with Mr Epstein commenced in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 guilty verdict for soliciting minors for commercial sex acts,” the letter said.

It continued: “It has also been claimed that you went with Epstein to his New York residence, the Queen’s estate at Balmoral, and to Mr Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of assaulting minors. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, along with the newly disclosed 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further supports our suspicion that you may have valuable information about the crimes committed by Mr Epstein and his co-conspirators.”

A notification regarding the letter said it was co-signed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and demands a reply by 20 November.

Previous Comments and Assistance

The letter arrives a week after another Democrat on the committee stated: “Andrew should be asked to give evidence before the panel. The citizens should be able to know who was assaulting women and minors alongside Epstein.”

However, the lawmaker does not possess the ability to subpoena the former prince and Congress itself cannot compel evidence from a non-US citizen.

In 2020, US officials said that Mountbatten Windsor neglected to respond to US demands for an meeting. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that authorities and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s attorneys to follow up on his earlier promise 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 no cooperation”.

Demands for Transparency

The lawmaker said in a statement that “affluent and powerful men have avoided justice for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the chance to be honest and secure justice for the affected individuals. We will not halt advocating for responsibility and openness for those affected of Epstein and his network of partners.”

Another endorser, a Virginia Democrat, said that after hearing evidence to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as media coverage of disclosed papers, “it is vital that Andrew cooperates with the current inquiry. If he is not guilty, then he can prove his innocence.”

The lawmaker continued: “And if not, our probe will demonstrate that, and the victims will receive belated accountability. The royal household’s actions stripping Andrew of his titles suggest there is more to this case.”

The letter was issued on the same day the British king formally revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III publicly made the adjustment – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “letters patent” which the crown office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s public registry.