US Lawmakers Push for Prince Andrew Testimony Amid Epstein Scandal Fallout
WASHINGTON – American lawmakers are intensifying efforts to compel Prince Andrew to testify in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein sex abuse scandal, even as his recent arrest in the UK has amplified the case’s resonance in the United States. The arrest, stemming from allegations of sexual assault, has reinvigorated calls for his cooperation with the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating Epstein’s network and potential cover-ups.
“He can testify remotely, he can testify in person – and in the UK,” Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), a member of the Oversight Committee, told the Associated Press. “We are very flexible when it comes to hearing testimony from people who have knowledge of what happened with Epstein and Maxwell, and the cover up as well. He clearly has knowledge.”
Subramanyam confirmed the committee is prepared to travel to the United Kingdom to secure Andrew’s testimony, highlighting the seriousness with which they view his potential insights. He pointed to recent travel by committee members to New York to meet with Bill and Hillary Clinton, and to Ohio to meet with Les Wexner, a prominent businessman and long-time associate of Epstein, as evidence of their commitment.
While a subpoena cannot be directly served on Andrew as a foreign national, lawmakers believe his testimony is crucial. The committee’s interest extends beyond the scope of the ongoing investigation by Thames Valley Police in the UK.
“I want to still hear from him. The door is still open. We will do it on his terms, and engage on his terms. I just want to make sure he tells the truth to us, because he’s not been truthful so far,” Subramanyam added.
The Epstein scandal continues to reverberate globally, but its impact is particularly pronounced in the US, where public demand for accountability remains high. According to a 2023 survey by Pew Research Center, 68% of Americans believe wealthy and powerful individuals are rarely held accountable for their actions. This sentiment fuels the committee’s determination to pursue all available avenues for investigation.
The arrest of Prince Andrew, and the subsequent scrutiny of his connections to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, has also indirectly impacted British politics. Morgan McSweeney, chief of staff to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, recently resigned amid questions surrounding the handling of the case.
However, Subramanyam emphasized that in the US, a significant number of individuals named in the Epstein files have faced little to no consequences. “The people who’ve gotten the least amount of consequences are people in the Trump administration who keep coming up in the files,” he stated. “I think the American public and the world public want to see accountability and justice, not just for the victims, but they want to see the system work.”
The pursuit of testimony from Prince Andrew underscores a broader desire for transparency and accountability in the wake of the Epstein scandal. Lawmakers hope that securing his cooperation will shed light on the full extent of the network and any attempts to conceal its activities.
[Video: Sky News report on Prince Andrew’s arrest – https://news.sky.com/video/police-search-properties-linked-to-peter-mandelson-amid-epstein-scandal-13504197]
[Image: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Pic: PA – https://e3.365dm.com/26/02/768×432/skynews-andrew-mountbatten_7168322.jpg?20260218143206]
