Britain’s former Prince Andrew did not respond to a request by US lawmakers to be questioned about his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, members of a congressional committee said.
Sixteen Democratic lawmakers signed a letter calling for Andrew to give a “transcribed interview” before the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating Epstein, who committed suicide in 2019 while facing sex-trafficking charges.
The letter asked Andrew to respond by November 20.
The US Congress cannot compel foreigners to testify, so it was unlikely that Andrew would agree. Democrats are in the minority in the House of Representatives.
“Andrew’s silence on the Democrats’ request for testimony speaks for itself,” committee members Robert Garcia and Suhas Subramanjan said on Friday.
Andrew has always denied that he sexually abused Virginia Giufre, who claimed she had sex with him on three occasions, twice when she was 17.
After she filed a lawsuit against him, Andrew paid her a multi-million dollar settlement in 2022 without admitting guilt.
Giufre, a US-Australian citizen, committed suicide at her home in Australia in April.
Garcia and Subramanjan said the committee’s work to uncover the extent of Epstein’s network “will move forward with or without the testimony of 65-year-old Andrew.”
– We will hold accountable anyone who was involved in these crimes, regardless of wealth, status or political affiliation. We will ensure justice for the victims – they stated.
(Vijesti.ba)
