US lawmakers ask Britain's Andrew to testify over Epstein files

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - LONDON— King Charles' younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is facing growing pressure from US lawmakers and the family of his prominent accuser Virginia Giuffre to testify in the US about his links to convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Democrat Congressman Ro Khanna said the Royal Family had "not been transparent", while Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez, also a Democrat, said "the King should direct his brother" to go to the US to answer questions.

Buckingham Palace said on Monday it was ready to support any police investigation after emails suggested Andrew might have shared confidential British trade documents with Epstein.

Andrew, already cast out of the royal inner circle over his close relationship with Epstein, has faced fresh scrutiny since the recent publication of millions of new documents relating to the late financier.

"The king has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct," a palace spokesperson said.

In the latest files released in the US, emails suggest he shared official British trade documents with Epstein in 2010, after Epstein's conviction for child sex crimes, leaking information from his then-role as an official government envoy.

The documents appear to show that Andrew forwarded Epstein reports about Vietnam, Singapore and other places, which he had been sent in relation to an official trip.

Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022 containing no admission of liability.

Thames Valley Police announced on Tuesday it was assessing a complaint by anti-monarchy group Republic over the alleged sharing of confidential material by Andrew with Epstein.

When asked by the BBC if the former prince should go to the US, Khanna said that would be "appropriate".

The Congressman, who co-sponsored the law that compelled the justice department to release the Epstein files last year, also said the Royal Family should "come clean" and lay out what they knew and what "action they're going to take".

"They have a large wealth, they should probably be compensating these survivors for the horrors that have taken place," he added.

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Khanna said the Royal Family were "finally" asking for an investigation, and that "these women have been denied justice".

It comes a day after Khanna told journalists this was the "most vulnerable" the British monarchy had been, and said stripping Andrew of a title was not enough.

"The King has to answer what he knew," he said.

The former prince has also moved out of his Windsor home and is currently living at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk while his new permanent home undergoes renovations.

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez, who is on House Oversight Committee, called for more transparency from Andrew.

Speaking to the BBC's Newsnight, she urged the King to tell his brother to "answer questions here at the Oversight Committee".

"You cannot say 'I am protected because I'm no longer in the jurisdiction of the United States, so I cannot be held liable'," Fernandez argued.

She also called for an inquiry in England. She said Andrew "was there, he knows who else was in the room with him. Who else was at those locations where these attacks took place?"

Sky Roberts, the brother of Virginia Giuffre, piled on the pressure earlier on Tuesday, telling journalists: "I think he [Andrew] should show up in front of our Congress and answer questions."

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer agreed.

The latest emails released by the US Department of Justice reveal there have been multiple unsuccessful approaches from US authorities for Andrew to help with Epstein inquiries.

The former prince cannot be forced by a subpoena to go to the US, which has caused a lot of frustration.

Last fall, Democrats in Congress set a November deadline for the former prince to testify about what he knew about Epstein, but he gave no response.

Since the release of three million more documents related to Epstein, there has been growing pressure on Andrew to testify in the case.

Andrew has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing. Being named in the Epstein files is not an indication of misconduct. — Agencies