Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces sharp criticism from American legislators for his continued refusal to engage with the congressional investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The former Duke of York, who was stripped of his royal titles last month, has been formally accused of maintaining a telling silence after being requested to provide testimony.
Congressional Demand for Testimony
The US House of Representatives formally requested Andrew undertake a transcribed interview regarding his longstanding friendship with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. Members of the Congressional House Oversight Committee, the primary investigative body in the House, had called upon Andrew to answer questions as part of their wider probe into Epstein's crimes and the handling of the case by US authorities.
A letter signed by 16 congress members was dispatched earlier this month, setting a response deadline of November 20. The committee specifically asked him to sit for an on-the-record interview deposition. Following the passing of this deadline without communication from Andrew, Democrats Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Congressman Suhas Subramanyam issued a powerful joint statement.
Official Condemnation of Silence
The formal statement from the legislators was unequivocal in its condemnation. “Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s silence in the face of the Oversight Democrat’s demand for testimony speaks volumes,” they declared. “The documents we’ve reviewed, along with public records and Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s testimony, raise serious questions he must answer, yet he continues to hide.”
The statement concluded with a firm commitment to progress, asserting “Our work will move forward with or without him, and we will hold anyone who was involved in these crimes accountable, no matter their wealth, status, or political party. We will get justice for the survivors.”
Mounting Pressure and Wider Developments
Andrew, 65, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. His lack of cooperation with US investigators comes amidst significant personal consequences, including being formally stripped of his royal titles by King Charles, 76, and losing his right to reside at Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate.
The pressure surrounding the Epstein case continues to intensify in the United States. On Wednesday, November 20, former President Donald Trump revealed he had signed a bill calling for the release of government files related to Epstein. The US Department of Justice now has 30 days to release all documents, including those concerning the investigation into Epstein's death in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City on August 10, 2019.
