US Congressman Calls On Ex-Royal Andrew to Provide Testimony in Epstein Inquiry
A Democratic Party representative has demanded the ex-royal Andrew Windsor to appear before the House of Representatives committee that is carrying out an inquiry into the official handling of the Epstein case.
Bipartisan Demands for Evidence
The statement from Ro Khanna, a California Democratic representative who is a member of the House oversight committee, comes after a UK trade minister, Chris Bryant, suggested that since the former prince has been stripped of his royal titles, he should answer demands for information about his dealings with Epstein, an alleged sex trafficker who took his own life while in government custody six years ago.
“Just as with any regular citizen, if there were formal requests from overseas of this kind, I would expect any reasonable individual to comply with that request,” Bryant said.
The congressman stated: “Andrew should be called to testify before the investigative committee. The public deserves to know who was abusing women and young girls alongside Epstein.”
Political Environment and Probe Developments
Republicans hold the majority in the House, but amid public outcry over Donald Trump’s handling of the Epstein matter authorized an investigation by the oversight committee into how the government handled his legal proceedings. Interest in the case flared in July, after the Department of Justice announced that a much-rumored list of Epstein’s sex trafficking clients was non-existent, and it would share nothing further on the case.
The House investigation has so far led to the release of tens of thousands of pages – including an explicit sketch reportedly drawn by Donald Trump for Epstein’s 50th birthday – as well as depositions from former top government officials.
Legal Actions and Challenges
As a member of the minority, Khanna does not have the power to compel the former prince’s appearance. Representatives for the committee’s Republican chair, Chairman Comer, declined to comment about whether he thinks the ex-royal should be questioned.
The Democrat and Thomas Massie have proposed legislation to force the release of Epstein-related documents, but Mike Johnson, a key presidential supporter, has blocked a vote on it. Massie and Khanna have distributed a petition that will require the bill be voted on, if 218 members of the House endorse it.
“This is what my campaign with Congressman Massie has been about: openness and accountability for the survivors who have been courageously speaking out,” the lawmaker said.
The petition has been signed by all 213 House Democrats, as well as four GOP members. The final required signature is anticipated to come from Adelita Grijalva, who was elected in Arizona last month, and awaits inauguration by Johnson. However, the House leader has refused to do so until the House reconvenes, and says he will not tell representatives to return to Washington until the Senate passes a measure to end the ongoing government shutdown.
