Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is facing renewed calls to testify in the US over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces fresh demands to give evidence in the US over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Congressman Jamie Raskin, the leading Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said the former prince should see appearing before Congress as a "service", after his decades-long friendship with America’s most notorious paedophile.
Rep. Raskin told the Mirror: "I would imagine that anyone as deeply involved as Prince Andrew clearly was would have a story to tell. I would think he would see that as some form of service, after being so disgraced by his involvement."
It comes as Andrew was spotted at the wheel of his car today driving on the Sandringham estate. The shamed former Duke of York was seen driving from his temporary home, Wood Farm, to Marsh Farm, the property that is being renovated ready for him to move into permanently. It is believed he was accompanied by one of his security guards who held one of Mountbatten-Windsor’s pet dogs.
It is just the second time he has been pictured since his arrest for misconduct in a public office last month. He had been holed up in his isolated Wood Farm on the King’s vast estate since dramatic images showed him slouched in the back of a car leaving Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk, after being detained on his 66th birthday.
Congress does not have the power to compel Andrew to travel to the United States to give evidence. Rep. Raskin said he did not see much appetite from the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress to seek cooperation with UK authorities.
"From my perspective it all comes down to whether or not the FBI is really interested in doing an investigation," he said, speaking in his Congressional office in Washington. "Right now, the FBI under Kash Patel and the Department of Justice under Pam Bondi are engaged in a full-blown cover-up.
"They’ve sent Congress off on a wild goose chase with a release of half of the documents called for by our federal law. Only three million of six million documents released. Then hundreds of thousands of pages are marred by redactions and excisions."
An unredacted version of the files has been made available for members of Congress only, on just four computers at the Department of Justice.
"It’s not set up for success," Rep. Raskin said. "The FBI should have approached Scotland Yard many years ago about working together on a serious and thorough investigation of what had happened. Is it still possible today? I suppose if there’s a will, there’s a way. But we have not seen the will."
Last week, Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, a member of the House Oversight Committee investigating the handling of Epstein’s prosecution, called on Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson to give evidence to Congress. "Sarah Ferguson should give sworn testimony to our committee," he told the BBC.
And Democratic Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury added: "If Ferguson or any member of their family has such information, our responsibility is to follow the facts wherever they lead."
Meanwhile, Congressman Thomas Massie backed the Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s call for US authorities to release unredacted correspondence between Peter Mandelson and Epstein. Sir Mark Rowley raised the issue during a visit to Washington last week and on Tuesday, Republican Thomas Massie said he agreed the US Department of Justice (DOJ) should share the unredacted evidence with UK officials.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Mr Massie said: "They absolutely should, and from what I’ve read, it sounds like they are sharing that. They absolutely should share that, and there are things that aren’t released, so we can talk about the redacted files, and obviously he would want to see the unredacted files."
Mr Massie said he is "not satisfied until the survivors are satisfied". He added: "Men need to be perp-walked in handcuffs to the jail, and until we see that here in this country... we don’t have a system of justice that’s working."
The DOJ released millions of pages of documents related to Epstein in January, with some of the pages showing the extent of the connection between Lord Mandelson and the sex offender.
Mandelson was previously arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after being accused of disclosing sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary.
Both Mandelson and former Prince Andrew say they had no knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, and being mentioned in the Epstein Files is not an indication of guilt.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the former prince had been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office last month following allegations arising out of the release of millions of pages of files related to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has always vigorously denied any wrongdoing.
On Saturday, the ex-prince was pictured for the first time since his arrest walking his dogs, which include the late Queen’s corgis Sandy and Muick, near to Marsh Farm.
Andrew’s latest appearance also comes just hours after it was revealed a team has started searching through records related to his time as a trade envoy. The former duke faces accusations of sharing sensitive information with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein while acting as a special representative for trade and investment between 2001 and 2011.
Trade minister Sir Chris Bryant said a team was working through "complexities" as they look through records spanning "multiple legacy bodies and formats". Ministers agreed in February to publish files related to the former Duke of York’s appointment to the post.
World Affairs Correspondent
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