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A American legislative body investigating 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 probe into Epstein’s wrongdoings.

In a letter made public on Thursday, a US representative, the senior Democrat on the House oversight committee, urged that King Charles III’s brother assist with its probe.

The written appeal to respond to queries follows a week after Mountbatten Windsor was relieved of his royal title and agreed to give up his leased home in Windsor.

Records and Accusations

Mountbatten Windsor’s name is listed in documents and travel logs subpoenaed 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 investigate allegations of misconduct by Mountbatten Windsor, and will request information on Epstein’s activities, network, 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 details of his association with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York prison cell in 2019. Andrew has always strongly denied any wrongdoing.

Substance of the Letter

“It has been publicly reported that your friendship with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you continued associating through and after his 2008 conviction for soliciting minors for prostitution,” the letter said.

It stated further: “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 secluded island in the US Virgin Islands, where you have been alleged of abusing underage individuals. This strong bond with Mr Epstein, coupled with the newly disclosed 2011 digital communication in which you wrote to him ‘we are in this together’, further bolsters our belief that you may have valuable information about the offenses committed by Mr Epstein and his partners in crime.”

A announcement regarding the letter said it was endorsed by 13 other Democrats on the committee and demands a answer by 20 November.

Previous Statements and Assistance

The letter follows a week after another Democrat on the committee told: “Andrew should be summoned to give evidence before the oversight committee. The people has the right to know who was assaulting women and minors alongside Epstein.”

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

In 2020, US authorities said that Mountbatten Windsor neglected to cooperate to US demands for an interview. The then US attorney for the southern district of New York said that lawyers and the FBI had reached out to Andrew’s lawyers to check on his public commitment that he was “willing to help any suitable law enforcement agency”.

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

Calls for Accountability

The lawmaker said in a announcement that “wealthy and well-connected men have avoided accountability for far too long. Now, one-time Prince Andrew has the opportunity to be honest and secure accountability for the affected individuals. Oversight Democrats will not cease advocating for answerability and openness for survivors of Epstein and his gang of accomplices.”

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

The lawmaker continued: “And if not, our examination will show that, and the victims will receive belated accountability. The monarchy’s actions removing Andrew of his titles show there is more to this story.”

The letter came on the same day the British king formally revoked Mountbatten Windsor of his princely title. Charles III officially made the change – which had been revealed a week ago – by issuing a “official document” which the royal office released in the Gazette, the UK’s official public record.