london
—
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are calling for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to come to Washington for questioning as part of the committee’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplices.
In a letter to Mr Andrew on Thursday, released shortly after he was formally stripped of the titles of ‘His Royal Highness’ and ‘Prince’, MPs asked him to submit to questioning to “gain insight into the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein’s co-conspirators”. Lawmakers have asked Andrew to be present for the transcription of the interview and have given him a response by November 20.
“For too long, the rich and powerful have escaped justice,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee’s top Democrat. “Prince Andrew now has an opportunity to come clean and provide justice for the survivors.”
The interview request comes a week after King Charles III began the process of stripping his brother of his titles and honors and banishing him from the royal estate of Windsor, seemingly ending Andrew’s years of fall from grace over his ties to Epstein.
Mr. Andrews is likely to deny the request from the Republican-led committee. Even with bipartisan support, the committee would have a hard time forcing Andrew’s participation. But without a signature from Republicans in Congress, Democrats cannot even take the step of issuing a subpoena. A subpoena has the force of law to compel attendance.
Nevertheless, the letter emphasizes that the stripping of Prince Andrew’s title as a prince will do little to deter those on both sides of the Atlantic seeking justice for Epstein’s alleged victims.
Mr Andrew’s name was subpoenaed from Mr Epstein’s estate, including references such as “massage to Andrew” in financial records and documents released by the committee, which the committee said “raises serious questions” about the nature of the billionaire’s relationship with the pedophile.
Andrew was also accused by Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, of sexually abusing her when she was just 17 years old. Giuffre wrote in her posthumous memoir that Andrew “believed it was his birthright to have sex with me.”
Andrew reportedly paid Giuffre millions of dollars to settle a civil lawsuit she filed in 2022, even though he claimed he had never met her. He has repeatedly denied all allegations against him.
Virginia Giuffre’s sister-in-law urges King Charles to use his influence to urge world leaders to act on Epstein scandal
Virginia Giuffre’s sister-in-law urges King Charles to use his influence to urge world leaders to act on Epstein scandal
2:22
In her memoir published last month, Giuffre said she feared retaliation if she accused Andrew and claimed the settlement imposed a one-year gag order to protect the honor of the royal family.
She also claimed that Andrew’s “team” tried to hire “internet trolls” to harass her while he hid behind the “heightly guarded gates” of Balmoral Castle to avoid being served court papers by his lawyers.
In early October, the Metropolitan Police announced it was investigating British media reports that in 2011 Andrew had asked his police guardian to “dig up the dirt” on Giuffre.
The commission said it was not only investigating allegations of abuse by Mr. Epstein and his circle, but also efforts to “silence, intimidate, and intimidate victims,” and cited the Met investigation as another reason for wanting to question Mr. Andrews. The committee was asked to respond by November 20th.
Royal sources told CNN that the commission’s request was a matter for Mr Andrew and that Buckingham Palace would not speak or act on his behalf.
Mr Andrew’s summons came a day after official British records showed he had been formally stripped of his title of ‘prince’. He is also preparing to leave Royal Lodge, where he has lived since 2003. Royal sources told CNN that Andrew has been given a home on the royal estate in Sandringham, Norfolk, and plans to move in after the Christmas holidays.
