WASHINGTON D.C. – Two Democratic lawmakers on the U.S. House Oversight Committee publicly condemned Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, on Friday, 22 November 2025, for his “silence” after failing to respond to their request for testimony regarding his relationship with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The lawmakers’ statement intensifies the political pressure on the British royal, whose longstanding association with Epstein has come under renewed scrutiny.

In a joint statement, Representative Robert Garcia, the committee's ranking member, and Representative Suhas Subramanyam said the former prince's failure to meet their 20 November deadline “speaks volumes.” “The documents we've reviewed, along with public records and Virginia Roberts Giuffre's testimony, raise serious questions he must answer, yet he continues to hide,” the lawmakers stated. They vowed to press forward with their investigation “with or without him” to secure justice for Epstein's survivors.

The request for a transcribed interview was formally made in a letter on 6 November 2025, signed by 16 Democratic members of the committee. The letter cited the need to understand the full scope of Epstein's criminal enterprise and identify his co-conspirators and enablers. Epstein, a wealthy financier, died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.

Global Implications for Justice and Accountability

While the investigation is centered in the United States and involves a British national, its implications resonate globally, including in Kenya. The high-profile pursuit of a royal figure by a foreign legislative body underscores a growing international demand for accountability, regardless of wealth or status. This case serves as a significant precedent in the global fight against transnational organized crime, particularly sex trafficking, an issue of critical importance in East Africa.

For Kenyan audiences, the Epstein saga is a powerful case study in the challenges of holding powerful individuals accountable for exploitation and abuse. It mirrors ongoing efforts within Kenya to strengthen judicial and law enforcement mechanisms to tackle corruption and deliver justice for victims of organized crime. Although no direct links between Epstein’s network and Kenya have been publicly established in this congressional probe, the investigation highlights the global and interconnected nature of these criminal networks.

Legal and Political Hurdles

The Democratic lawmakers face significant procedural obstacles in compelling testimony from Mountbatten-Windsor. As the minority party in the House of Representatives, they lack the authority to issue subpoenas without the support of the Republican majority and the committee's chairman, James Comer. To date, Chairman Comer has not publicly commented on whether he would support such a measure against the former prince.

Even if a subpoena were issued, enforcing it would be legally complex. U.S. congressional subpoenas generally have no legal force over foreign nationals residing outside the United States. Mountbatten-Windsor, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, could avoid any potential legal consequences for non-compliance by simply not traveling to the U.S. This jurisdictional challenge highlights the inherent difficulties in cross-border investigations, where international cooperation is paramount but not always guaranteed.

The Oversight Committee's broader investigation has involved subpoenas to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Epstein estate, yielding thousands of pages of documents that continue to fuel the inquiry. The lawmakers' persistence, despite the jurisdictional hurdles with Prince Andrew, signals a determination to follow all available leads in mapping Epstein's extensive network of influence and connections.