London
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Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are requesting that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor come to Washington to be questioned as a part of the panel’s investigation into the convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplices.
In a letter to Andrew on Thursday – printed quickly after he was formally stripped of his “Royal Highness” fashion and “Prince” title – the lawmakers requested that he submit himself to questioning to “provide insight into the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein’s co-conspirators.” The lawmakers ask Andrew to take a seat for a transcribed interview and ask that he present a response by November 20.
“Rich and powerful men have evaded justice for far too long,” stated Rep. Robert Garcia, the highest Democrat on the committee. “Now, former Prince Andrew has the opportunity to come clean and provide justice for the survivors.”
The request for an interview comes per week after King Charles III started a course of to strip his youthful brother of his titles and honors and evict him from the royal property at Windsor, seeming to cap Andrew’s yearslong fall from grace over the depth of his ties to Epstein.
Andrew will seemingly decline the request from the Republican-controlled committee. Even with bi-partisan help, the committee would battle to compel Andrew’s participation. But with out Congressional Republicans signing on, the Democrats can not even take the step of issuing a subpoena — which presents authorized weight to pressure an individual to look.
Nonetheless, the letter underscores how the elimination of Andrew’s title as prince will do little to discourage these on either side of the Atlantic in search of justice for Epstein’s alleged victims.
Andrew’s title seems in monetary information and paperwork subpoenaed from Epstein’s property and printed by the committee, together with in notations akin to “massages for Andrew,” which the committee stated “raise serious questions” in regards to the nature of his relationship with the billionaire pedophile.
He has additionally been accused by Virginia Giuffre – who died by suicide in April – of sexually abusing her when she was simply 17. In her posthumous memoir, Giuffre wrote that Andrew “believed that having sex with me was his birthright.”
Despite claiming by no means to have met her, Andrew reportedly paid thousands and thousands of {dollars} to Giuffre in 2022 to settle a civil case she introduced towards him. He has repeatedly denied all allegations towards him.
Virginia Giuffre’s sister-in-law urges King Charles to make use of his affect to push international leaders to behave on Epstein scandal
In her memoir, printed final month, Giuffre wrote that she feared retaliation if she made allegations towards Andrew, claiming that the settlement restricted her to a one-year gag order designed to guard the royal household’s popularity.
She additionally claimed that Andrew’s “team” tried to rent “internet trolls” to problem her whereas he hid behind the “well-guarded gates” of Balmoral Castle to keep away from being served courtroom papers by her attorneys.
Earlier in October, London’s Metropolitan Police stated it was investigating stories within the British media that Andrew requested his police safety to “dig up dirt” on Giuffre in 2011.
As properly as investigating alleged abuse dedicated by Epstein and his circle, the committee stated it was additionally probing efforts to “silence, intimidate, or threaten victims,” citing the Met’s investigation as one more reason for desirous to query Andrew. It requested that he present a response to the committee by November 20.
Royal sources advised NCS that the committee’s request is a matter for Andrew, for whom Buckingham Palace doesn’t communicate or act.
Andrew’s summoning comes a day after the UK’s official public report showed that he has been formally stripped of his “Prince” title. He can be making ready to go away Royal Lodge, the place he has lived since 2003. Royal sources have advised NCS that Andrew will likely be given a home on the King’s personal property in Sandringham, Norfolk, and that he’s anticipated to maneuver after the Christmas holidays.