The former prince had maintained a long friendship with Epstein and is accused of sexually assaulting Virginia Giuffre — allegations he denies…reports Asian Lite News
UK prime minister Keir Starmer has intensified pressure on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to cooperate with a US congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, saying that anyone with information relevant to cases involving child sexual offences should disclose it to authorities.
Mountbatten-Windsor, stripped of his royal titles last month amid renewed scrutiny of his ties to Epstein, has not responded to an interview request from the US House oversight committee. The former prince had maintained a long friendship with Epstein and is accused of sexually assaulting Virginia Giuffre — allegations he denies.
Speaking to reporters en route to the G20 summit in Johannesburg, Starmer avoided direct comment on Andrew’s case but made his position clear. “A general principle I’ve held for a very long time is that anybody who has got relevant information in relation to these kinds of cases should give that evidence to those that need it,” he said. While stressing that the decision rests with Andrew, Starmer added: “If you have relevant information, you should be prepared to share it.”
His remarks follow mounting frustration within the US House oversight committee, which is conducting an inquiry into Epstein’s network and associates. Members wrote to Mountbatten-Windsor requesting a transcribed interview and gave him a 20 November deadline. According to two Democratic lawmakers on the panel, he missed it.
Robert Garcia, the most senior Democrat on the committee, and fellow member Suhas Subramanyam accused him of stonewalling their investigation. “The documents we’ve reviewed, along with public records and Virginia Giuffre’s testimony, raise serious questions he must answer, yet he continues to hide,” they said in a joint statement. “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.”
Despite their criticisms, Democrats alone cannot compel Andrew to testify. Republicans hold the committee majority, and its chair, James Comer, has not signalled whether he intends to support a subpoena. The issue remains politically sensitive, given President Donald Trump’s long-documented association with Epstein and his social circle.
Earlier this week, Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which requires attorney general Pam Bondi to release government records tied to Epstein within 30 days. The move has intensified attention on figures linked to Epstein, including Mountbatten-Windsor, whose past conduct continues to face public scrutiny in both the US and UK.
If Congress did choose to issue a subpoena, Andrew — a UK national who denies all allegations — could avoid legal penalties by simply staying out of the United States. US lawmakers cannot enforce compliance on foreign nationals overseas.
The Times reported that Democratic members of the committee also referred to a recently uncovered 2011 email in which Andrew wrote, “we are in this together.” They argue that his long-standing association with Epstein and emerging documentary evidence suggest he holds information vital to the inquiry. A separate letter, also reported by The Times, described Andrew’s silence as obstructive and deeply concerning.
The Guardian noted that Andrew has also failed to respond to a formal approach from the committee seeking cooperation. Newly released Epstein files — nearly 23,000 pages — reference Andrew dozens of times, including an email that appears to confirm the authenticity of the infamous photograph showing him with Giuffre, an image he had previously cast doubt upon.
Pressure on Andrew has intensified since he was stripped of his royal titles following the resurgence of Giuffre’s allegations. Although he reached a civil settlement with her in 2022 without admitting liability, political and institutional scrutiny has only grown. According to The Independent, Garcia and Subramanyam publicly condemned his continued “silence,” saying survivors “deserve justice”.
Starmer, while cautious not to be drawn into direct judgement on Andrew, has now aligned himself with the broader view that potential witnesses should step forward. His remarks underscore a shifting political climate in which longstanding associations with Epstein — once treated as an uncomfortable footnote — are increasingly seen as matters requiring full public accountability.
As the US investigation widens and more documents are released, pressure on Mountbatten-Windsor is likely to mount. Whether he chooses to cooperate, however, remains entirely in his hands.
