london
Reuters
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Members of a US parliamentary committee investigating the Jeffrey Epstein scandal have stepped up their calls for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to answer questions about his relationship with the late financier and sex offender, the BBC reported on Saturday.
King Charles on Thursday stripped Andrew of his prince title and kicked him out of his mansion on the grounds of Windsor Castle, responding to the anger that had spread around the royal family over years of damaging headlines about his actions.
Buckingham Palace said the condemnation was necessary despite Mr Andrew continuing to deny the allegations against him.
The king’s move prompted calls for Andrew to reveal everything he knows about Epstein, especially in light of Thursday’s palace statement expressing sympathy for abuse victims.
The BBC reported that at least four Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the US government’s handling of the Epstein scandal, are seeking new testimony from Andrew.
The magazine quoted one of them, Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, as saying: “Come clean, come to the United States Congress and testify voluntarily, don’t wait for a subpoena, come and testify and tell us what you know.”
“Not only to give justice to the survivors, but to ensure that something like this never happens again.”
Another Democratic lawmaker, Suhas Subrahmanyam, said Andrew could appear remotely with his lawyer and speak privately to the committee.
Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.
On Friday, British Trade Secretary Kris Bryant told the BBC that Mr Andrew should go to the US to answer questions about Mr Epstein.
Separately on Saturday, England and Wales’ police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, said it had contacted the Metropolitan Police to “understand whether there are any issues that would meet the criteria for a referral to us” in light of media reports about Andrew.
In response, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the decision was taken not to proceed with a full criminal investigation after officers concluded in 2016 that “other jurisdictions or organizations” would be more appropriate to pursue certain charges.
