Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, has been asked by a senior US lawmaker to testify about her “close personal and business ties” with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam sent a letter to Ferguson, first reported by the BBC, requesting her cooperation in appearing before a congressional committee investigating Epstein. While there is no legal mechanism to compel her testimony, the letter represents the most direct pressure she has faced since the scandal emerged.
The letter, sent on Thursday with a two-week deadline, also seeks information about any knowledge Ferguson had of Prince Andrew’s involvement with Epstein. The former duke has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. The letter cites emails Ferguson sent to Epstein after his 2008 conviction, in which she called him a “legend” and wrote, “I am at your service. Just marry me.” Another email requested a loan of £50,000 to £100,000 to cover bills.
The letter states: “It is clear that you possessed social and business ties to Mr Epstein and have knowledge of information that can assist our investigation.” It requests a response by 9 April 2026. The Epstein files have revealed a close relationship, with Ferguson describing Epstein as “the brother I have always wished for.” The files also suggest she took her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, for lunch with Epstein shortly after his release from prison.
The family of late Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre has said they “strongly believed” Ferguson should testify. A representative for Giuffre’s brother told the BBC: “If Ferguson knows anything, she should testify in the United States immediately.” Separately, the City of York Council stripped Ferguson of her Freedom of the City title on Thursday evening. Liberal Democrat councillor Darryl Smalley said: “We don’t expect recipients of York’s highest honour to be saints. We simply do not want them to be best friends of convicted paedophiles.”
Six companies linked to Ferguson have begun winding down following the Epstein files’ publication, and her charity, Sarah’s Trust, announced it would close “for the foreseeable future.” Ferguson’s representatives have been approached for comment.
