Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been requested by Democrats within the US Congress to reply questions as a part of their investigation into pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Members of the House Oversight Committee wrote to Andrew in a letter addressed to the Royal Lodge, Windsor Mansion, from the place he was ordered to maneuver when he was. stripped of his title as a prince On 30 October.
The committee doesn’t have the facility to compel Andrew to look earlier than them, however stated it supposed to ask questions associated to Epstein's community and associates primarily based on the pair's “long-standing” friendship.
Andrew was stripped of his titles After months of strain over her relationship with Epstein. He has all the time denied wrongdoing.
The committee is managed by Republicans, who haven’t indicated they’d assist the transfer to induce Andrews to testify.
Signed by 16 Democrats, the letter requested Andrews to sit down for a “transcribed interview” earlier than the congressional committee investigating the Epstein case.
“The Committee is seeking to uncover the identities of Mr. Epstein’s co-conspirators and supporters and understand the full extent of his criminal actions,” the letter reads.
“The well-documented allegations in opposition to you, in addition to your long-term friendship with Mr. Epstein, point out that you’ll have information of his actions associated to our investigation.
“In the interest of justice for Jeffrey Epstein's victims, we request that you cooperate with the Committee's investigation by sitting down for a written interview with the Committee.”
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated the invitation was a matter for Andrew to contemplate “personally”.
“My view, and this isn’t about a person case, extra broadly, is that anybody who has related info ought to all the time be ready to offer it to any inquiries that require that info.
“But the personal decision is a matter for him.”
Spencer Quin, a lawyer who has represented a number of Epstein accusers, instructed BBC Radio 4's Today program that he didn’t assume Andrew would “put himself at risk” and seem earlier than the committee.
Anyone who testifies in Congress should take an oath to inform the reality, he defined, and threat “prosecution for lying under oath.”
But by revealing who he noticed at Epstein's house and “verifying” a few of the accusers' accounts, Andrew may assist determine Epstein's potential co-conspirators.
Liberal Democrat chief Sir Ed Davey stated it was “right” for Andrew to look earlier than Congress over his relationship with Epstein.
“He should also give evidence to our Parliament. The public deserves answers and full transparency about this scandal,” he wrote in a submit on Twitter.
Buckingham Palace introduced in late October that Andrew would lose his “Prince” title and depart the Royal Lodge as his relationship with Epstein continued to trigger controversy.
it got here a number of weeks later Andrew stated he has determined to surrender his titles, Including the Duke of York,
“I have, as always, decided to put my duty to my family and country first,” he stated on the time. He stated the choice was taken after discussions with the king.
In a posthumous memoir revealed in October, Virginia Giuffre – a distinguished Epstein accuser – repeated allegations that, as a teen, she had intercourse with Andrew on three separate events. Andrew denied the allegations.
The committee addressed these allegations within the letter, requesting the previous prince to make himself out there for an interview “given these recent events and the appalling allegations that have emerged from Ms. Giuffre's memoir and other credible sources”.
some committee members Had my name up upfront of Andrew answering questions About her relationship with the late intercourse offender, days after she was stripped of her titles.
With inputs from BBC