US lawmakers have written to Britain’s disgraced former royal, Prince Andrew, requesting that he sit for an interview regarding his long-standing association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The letter, signed by sixteen Democratic members of Congress, was made public on Thursday—the same day King Charles III formally revoked Andrew’s remaining royal titles and privileges. The move followed last week’s announcement that the Duke of York, now referred to as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, was being permanently excluded from the British monarchy.
The lawmakers, members of the House of Representatives Oversight Committee, asked Andrew to participate in a “transcribed interview” as part of an ongoing investigation into Epstein’s criminal network.
“The committee is seeking to uncover the identities of Mr. Epstein’s co-conspirators and enablers and to understand the full extent of his criminal operations,” the letter stated. “Well-documented allegations against you, along with your long-standing friendship with Mr. Epstein, indicate that you may possess knowledge of his activities relevant to our investigation.”
The committee requested that Andrew respond to the letter by November 20. However, because the U.S. Congress lacks the authority to compel testimony from foreign nationals, it remains uncertain whether Andrew will comply with the request.
A spokesperson for the former prince has not issued any public comment regarding the letter.
Royal Fallout and Renewed Scrutiny
The letter’s release coincides with mounting public outrage in the United Kingdom over Andrew’s relationship with Epstein. The controversy was reignited by emails recently released by the committee and revelations from a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, the woman who accused Andrew of sexual assault.
In the memoir, Giuffre detailed her abuse at the hands of Epstein and alleged that she had been trafficked to have sex with Andrew on three separate occasions, twice when she was just 17. Andrew has consistently denied the allegations.
Following the civil lawsuit filed by Giuffre in 2021, Andrew agreed to pay her a multi-million-pound settlement in 2022 without admitting guilt. The settlement effectively ended the case but did little to restore his public standing.
Giuffre, who held dual U.S. and Australian citizenship, was found dead in her home in Australia in April, reportedly from suicide.
In response to renewed public pressure, King Charles formally removed Andrew’s remaining royal titles and honours, including his residence in a 30-room mansion on the Windsor estate. The changes were confirmed through an announcement in The Gazette, the UK government’s official public record.
What you should know
Prince Andrew is once again under international scrutiny as U.S. lawmakers request his cooperation in an ongoing probe into Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network.
The House Oversight Committee believes he may hold valuable information regarding Epstein’s associates. Meanwhile, King Charles has stripped Andrew of all royal titles and privileges, deepening his isolation from the monarchy.
