Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces mounting pressure from US lawmakers after missing a crucial deadline to testify about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee accused him of "hiding" and vowed to proceed with their investigation regardless of his cooperation.
The former Duke of York failed to respond by November 20 to a formal request for a "transcribed interview" from the Congressional House Oversight Committee. Democrats Robert Garcia and Suhas Subramanyam released a scathing statement: «Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's silence in the face of the Oversight Democrat's demand for testimony speaks volumes. 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 lawmakers emphasized their determination to continue: «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.»
The congressional probe examines Andrew's years-long friendship with Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 in a New York prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. Virginia Roberts Giuffre, whose posthumous memoir "Nobody's Girl" is pending publication, accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her as a teenager after being introduced by Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001. Andrew has consistently denied all wrongdoing.
Additional pressure mounts
Beyond the US investigation, Andrew faces the potential loss of his "Freedom of the City of London" honor, one of the world's oldest civic honors. He received the title "by virtue of patrimony" through his father Prince Philip. An insider told The Sun that the City of London Corporation is reviewing the rules: «The City Corporation is listening, and will continue to listen, to concerns raised. And it will carefully consider the rules that govern how a Freedom is given — and the circumstances in which, and procedure by which, it can be removed.»
The source noted that «Applications via patrimony are not considered by our elected members.»
Andrew was stripped of his prince and Duke of York titles earlier this month by King Charles, losing his right to live at Royal Lodge. His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson is reportedly considering six-figure television interview offers from US channels, according to The Sun.
Trump signs Epstein files release
On Wednesday, November 20, President Donald Trump signed a bill mandating the release of all government files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days. Trump wrote: «Perhaps the truth about these Democrats, and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein, will soon be revealed, because I HAVE JUST SIGNED THE BILL TO RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!»
The justice department must now release all files, including those pertaining to Epstein's death investigation at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City on August 10, 2019.
Damaging newspaper allegations claim Andrew attempted to enlist the Metropolitan Police in a smear campaign against Giuffre in 2011, allegedly passing her date of birth and social security number to his taxpayer-funded bodyguard. Police previously investigated these reports.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
