In brief
Lawmakers in the U.S. are increasingly insisting that Prince Andrew should testify about his ties to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Congressman Ro Khanna and Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez have called for the royal to answer questions regarding his alleged misconduct, stressing the need for transparency from the Royal Family. Following the latest release of Epstein files, which reportedly detail Andrew's interactions with Epstein, the pressure for him to assist in investigations has intensified. Despite his denials of wrongdoing and a previous out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, the scrutiny around his actions continues.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is facing growing pressure from U.S. officials and the family of Virginia Giuffre, one of his prominent accusers, to testify about his links to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Speaking to the BBC, Democrat Congressman Ro Khanna stated that the Royal Family has not been transparent, and called on King Charles III to direct his brother to cooperate with inquiries into Epstein's activities.
Prior to this, King Charles expressed that the Royal Family was ready to support police investigations regarding Epstein.
Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing and reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022, which included no admission of liability.
In his first public comments on the matter, King Charles emphasized his concern over the allegations against his brother while reaffirming his commitment to helping the investigation, should they be approached.
Thames Valley Police recently announced they were assessing a complaint regarding Andrew sharing confidential material with Epstein during his time as a trade envoy in 2010 and 2011, leading to calls from political figures for him to testify.
Khanna further urged the Royal Family to disclose what actions they intend to take and suggested they should compensate survivors of abuse, given their substantial wealth.
Calls for Andrew to appear before Congress have increased following new revelations in the Epstein case, particularly regarding additional previous allegations and newly released documents suggesting a second woman was sent to engage with Andrew at Epstein's direction.
Despite mounting pressure, Andrew has not yet publicly responded to the latest allegations and inquiries regarding potential testimony.
