US House Committee Seeks Interview with Prince Andrew in Expanding Jeffrey Epstein Inquiry

A senior Democrat on the US House Oversight Committee has requested an interview with Prince Andrew as part of the panel’s continuing investigation into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his network of associates. The request marks a new phase in the congressional inquiry, which aims to uncover how Epstein maintained connections with high-profile individuals and institutions despite his criminal record.

Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the committee, made the formal request in a letter published on Thursday. In it, Garcia asked Prince Andrew to provide information about his past interactions with Epstein and to clarify the nature of their relationship. The committee is seeking voluntary cooperation at this stage, describing the interview as an opportunity for transparency and accountability.

Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, maintained extensive social and business ties with political leaders, financiers, and public figures around the world. Prince Andrew’s friendship with him has been a subject of public scrutiny for years, particularly after allegations surfaced linking Epstein’s activities to misconduct involving minors. The Duke of York has consistently denied any wrongdoing and previously reached a legal settlement with one of Epstein’s accusers in a civil case without admitting liability.

The new congressional request signals that US lawmakers are broadening the scope of their investigation beyond financial oversight to include potential abuses of influence and power. According to the letter, the committee intends to review how Epstein leveraged his connections to secure favorable treatment, travel privileges, and access to global elites. Lawmakers have also expressed interest in understanding how those relationships may have impacted regulatory and law enforcement decisions in the United States and abroad.

Garcia said the inquiry’s goal is not to target individuals based on reputation but to examine systemic failures that allowed Epstein’s operations to persist for years. He emphasized that Prince Andrew’s perspective could help clarify aspects of Epstein’s network and shed light on how high-profile associations shaped public perception of the financier’s legitimacy.

Officials familiar with the process said no subpoena has been issued yet, and the committee hopes to arrange a cooperative interview before the end of the year. It remains unclear whether Prince Andrew or his legal representatives will respond to the request. The British royal has largely withdrawn from public duties since the controversy resurfaced in 2019 and has kept a low profile while focusing on private engagements.

The US inquiry follows renewed efforts by federal investigators to revisit Epstein’s financial dealings, offshore entities, and potential co-conspirators. Lawmakers say their findings will inform recommendations on safeguarding against similar abuses of wealth and influence in the future.

As the investigation unfolds, the request for Prince Andrew’s cooperation underscores the enduring global fallout from the Epstein case, a scandal that continues to expose gaps in accountability at the highest levels of society.