<\/p>\n
Former British prince Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been summoned to appear before a US congressional panel investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.<\/p>\n
Mr Mountbatten Windsor, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, has been sent a letter by Democratic members of the House Committee on Oversight, requesting he submit to questioning.<\/p>\n
In a statement, published on Thursday, local time, the committee said it would investigate “allegations of abuse by Mountbatten Windsor, and will seek information on Epstein’s operations, network, and associates based on the men’s longstanding and well-documented friendship”.<\/p>\n
“Rich and powerful men have evaded justice for far too long. Now, former prince Andrew has the opportunity to come clean and provide justice for the survivors,” Congressman Robert Garcia said.<\/p>\n
“Oversight Democrats will not stop fighting for accountability and transparency for survivors of Epstein and his gang of co-conspirators.”<\/p>\n
The US Congress has sweeping powers to subpoena people it wants to question; however, they do not apply to foreign nationals, meaning Mr Mountbatten Windsor cannot be compelled to testify.<\/p>\n
The former royal has until November 20 to respond.<\/p>\n The former prince has been described as a close friend of Epstein’s between 1999 and 2008.<\/p>\n Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in Western Australia earlier this year, had alleged she was trafficked by Epstein to Mr Mountbatten Windsor as a teenager, and that the then-Duke of York had sexually abused her.<\/p>\n He denies any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n