US Congressmen Warn Royal Reputation at Risk Over Epstein Scandal Handling
The Royal family's reputation is 'on the line' due to its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, according to statements made by US congressmen last night. Representative Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat, expressed hope that King Charles would 'do the right thing' and ensure his brother, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, is held 'accountable' for his friendship with the convicted paedophile.
National Security Concerns Raised
Speaking outside Capitol Hill, Representative Melanie Stansbury, another Democrat, highlighted that Epstein posed a 'national security risk' to the United Kingdom. In an apparent reference to Peter Mandelson, who reportedly sent British government documents to Epstein while in office, Rep Stansbury called for a thorough investigation into anyone who shared information with the late financier.
The congressmen's remarks coincided with US Attorney General Pam Bondi appearing before Congress to address questions regarding the Epstein case. Outside the hearing, several survivors of Epstein's crimes criticised the Department of Justice's handling of the release of three million Epstein documents last month. Among them was the family of the late Virginia Giuffre, who alleged that Epstein loaned her to Prince Andrew for sex on three occasions when she was 17 years old.
Royal Family Under Pressure
Representative Subramanyam directly targeted the royal family, emphasising that they need to take more decisive action. Earlier this week, Buckingham Palace stated that the King felt 'profound concern' over the allegations against his brother. King Charles also pledged to cooperate with the Thames Valley Police's investigation into claims that an Epstein victim was sent to Royal Lodge, Andrew's former residence, for sex with him in 2010.
Rep Subramanyam remarked, 'In terms of King Charles, the family's reputation is on the line, so I hope they do the right thing by letting the authorities hold Andrew accountable for anything he did.' He further noted that he still desires Andrew to testify before the House Oversight Committee, as the former prince has not yet responded to such requests.
Rep Subramanyam added, 'The victims have said justice has many forms, and one of them is the reputations and titles of many of these people involved in these crimes, so their reputation is on the line right now.'
Broader Implications and Calls for Accountability
Representative Stansbury argued that Epstein's crimes extend far beyond sex trafficking, encompassing money laundering and other illicit activities. She stated, 'It's not only a stain on the reputation of all world leaders associated with Epstein and his sexual crimes, but it's a national security risk.' Stansbury elaborated that Epstein's actions included 'potential influence peddling of state secrets to foreign governments,' and noted that 'we still don't understand the nature of his intelligence work.'
She emphasised, 'What's happened in the UK is Jeffrey Epstein was a national security risk to the UK, and the individuals who may have intentionally or inadvertently shared information should be held accountable.'
In a related development, Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat, made an apparent reference to Sir Keir Starmer, who faces intense pressure for appointing Mandelson as US ambassador. She declared, 'Around the world, princes, ambassadors, and even prime ministers are being brought down for their participation in this global sex trafficking ring.' Jayapal concluded that Epstein's associates 'absolutely believed they were above the law,' underscoring the need for rigorous scrutiny and accountability across all levels of involvement.
