In a newly aggressive push for transparency, leading Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives are renewing and intensifying calls for former Prince Andrew to testify before a Congressional committee regarding his long and scrutinized association with the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
The demands follow King Charles III’s recent, dramatic decision to strip his brother of all remaining royal titles and honours, a move that critics argue removes Andrew’s last shield of diplomatic immunity and public deference. U.S. lawmakers now argue that as an “ordinary member of the public,” Andrew has a moral obligation to cooperate with American investigators.
The Congressional Push for Testimony
The focus of the calls is the ongoing inquiry by the U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee, which is scrutinizing the government’s handling of the Epstein case and the extent of his powerful network.
- Direct Appeal: Democratic Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), a member of the Oversight Committee, has been vocal, stating, “If he wants to do right by the victims, he will come forward… He clearly has knowledge of what happened and we just want him to tell us what he knows.”
- The ‘Ordinary Citizen’ Argument: Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), also on the oversight committee, echoed this sentiment, arguing, “Andrew should be called to testify before the oversight committee. The public deserves to know who was abusing women and young girls alongside Epstein.” This position is supported by a UK government minister, Chris Bryant, who recently stated he would expect Andrew, now stripped of his titles, to comply with any such request “just as with any ordinary member of the public.”
- The Subpoena Hurdle: While Democrats have the will, they lack the power to unilaterally subpoena a non-U.S. citizen like Andrew. This legal constraint means the lawmakers must rely on the former royal’s voluntary cooperation or renewed public pressure.
The political push is being heavily influenced by the renewed public scrutiny stemming from the posthumously published memoir of the late accuser, Virginia Giuffre, which detailed her allegations of being forced to have sex with Andrew when she was 17, claims the former Prince has always strenuously denied.
New Evidence and Growing Pressure
The latest revelations have only increased the urgency for Andrew’s testimony:
- The 2011 Email: Recently released court documents revealed an email sent from Andrew to Epstein in February 2011—months after Andrew had claimed he cut off all contact with the financier—in which he wrote they were “in this together” and needed to “rise above it.”
- The Blackmail Claim: Congressman Subramanyam has suggested that based on evidence reviewed by the committee, it is “very likely, very possible that Prince Andrew was being blackmailed” by Epstein, further emphasizing the need for his cooperation.
- Victims’ Demand: The family of the late Ms. Giuffre, while hailing King Charles’s decision to strip Andrew’s titles as a “victory,” has made it clear that their fight for accountability for all abusers and abettors continues.
Despite having settled a 2022 civil lawsuit brought by Giuffre for an undisclosed sum, Andrew made no admission of guilt. However, his repeated denials and past public statements—particularly his widely criticized 2019 BBC interview—have failed to clear his name. Now, with his royal status gone, US lawmakers are challenging him to finally face his accusers on American soil.