Pressure is mounting on Sarah Ferguson to testify in the United States over her links to Jeffrey Epstein, although no formal request has been made. Files released by the Department of Justice in January revealed she remained in contact with the disgraced financier, including just 17 days before his release from a Florida jail for soliciting sex with minors.
US lawmakers have repeatedly called for Ferguson's former husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, to answer questions about his links to Epstein, and she is now facing similar calls. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, a member of the House Oversight Committee investigating the handling of Epstein's prosecution, said he believed she had 'information related to the investigation' and should give sworn testimony.
Despite the renewed scrutiny, Ferguson, 66, has kept a low profile in recent months. Some insiders believe she will avoid appearing before any congressional committee as a final act of loyalty to Andrew. Media lawyer Jonathan Coad, who previously represented Ferguson, said there was 'no chance' she would travel to the US, adding that it would be 'a disaster for her, for her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie - and also for Andrew'.
There is no legal mechanism to compel Ferguson to testify in the US, but lawmakers have said they would be willing to work out terms as long as she is under oath. The family of prominent Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre also said they 'strongly believed' the former Duchess of York should go to the US to answer questions.
Speculation about Ferguson's next move has included reports of six-figure sums offered by US networks for an interview, and a rejected £1.5million book deal. Hollywood sources said no one wanted to enable her to 'cash in on the Epstein scandal'. Ferguson has previously worked as a correspondent for NBC's Today show and authored children's books.
