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A American legislative panel probing pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein has reached out to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, previously Britain’s Prince Andrew, requesting that he undergo questioning as part of its probe into Epstein’s illegal activities.

In a communication published on Thursday, a California congressman, the senior Democrat on the House oversight committee, requested that King Charles III’s brother assist with its probe.

The written appeal to provide testimony comes a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his HRH style and opted to give up his rented residence in Windsor.

Files and Accusations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name appears in papers and aviation records obtained from Epstein’s estate and publicly released by the committee. He has also been charged by one of Epstein’s accusers, the late Virginia Giuffre, of sexual assault.

“The committee will examine allegations of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request data on Epstein’s activities, associates, and accomplices based on the men’s enduring and extensively reported friendship,” the committee said in a statement.

It sought particulars from Mountbatten Windsor on specifics of his relationship with Epstein, who killed himself in a New York jail cell in 2019. Andrew has consistently strongly denied any impropriety.

Substance of the Communication

“It has been documented that your relationship with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 conviction for trafficking underage girls for prostitution,” the letter said.

It added: “It has also been alleged that you went with Epstein to his New York home, 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 underage individuals. This close relationship with Mr Epstein, along with the recently revealed 2011 email exchange in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our concern that you may have important details about the crimes committed by Mr Epstein and his partners in crime.”

A notification regarding the letter said it was supported by 13 other Democrats on the committee and asks a answer by 20 November.

Previous Statements and Collaboration

The letter follows a week after another Democrat on the committee commented: “Andrew should be asked to testify before the oversight committee. The people deserves to know who was harming women and minors alongside Epstein.”

However, the lawmaker does not hold the power to subpoena the former prince and Congress itself cannot force statements from a overseas individual.

In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor neglected to respond to US demands for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that prosecutors and the FBI had contacted Andrew’s attorneys to inquire 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 public commitment,” the attorney said, adding that to date he had “provided absolutely no cooperation”.

Demands for Transparency

The congressman said in a announcement that “rich and powerful men have evaded justice for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the option to tell the truth and provide redress for the victims. The committee will not halt advocating for answerability and transparency for those affected of Epstein and his gang of co-conspirators.”

Another supporter, a Virginia Democrat, said that after listening to evidence to the committee from Epstein’s accusers, as well as public reporting of disclosed papers, “it is essential that Andrew assists with the current inquiry. If he is not guilty, then he can clear his name.”

The lawmaker continued: “And if not, our probe will reveal that, and the victims will receive much-delayed redress. The royal household’s actions stripping Andrew of his honors indicate there is further to this case.”

The letter came on the same day the British king publicly removed Mountbatten Windsor of his HRH style. Charles III formally made the change – which had been declared a week ago – by issuing a “letters patent” which the crown office made public in the Gazette, the UK’s official public record.