The former Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, could face a renewed American investigation into his ties to Jeffrey Epstein if the Democratic Party secures control of Congress in next month's elections, according to reports.
Democrat Suhas Subramanyam has pledged to help British police obtain highly sensitive, unredacted Epstein files, which remain a barrier in the ongoing UK inquiry into the 66-year-old's connections to the disgraced financier.
Legal demand for testimony
Subramanyam said he is prepared to issue a formal, legally binding demand requiring Andrew to testify about his friendship with Epstein. The former royal has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The development threatens to overshadow Andrew's recent legal victory against British police, who were forced to accept that search warrants used in raids on his Sandringham and Windsor homes were unlawful.
Background of the case
Andrew launched his legal challenge after his arrest on February 19, his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Authorities had argued that delaying the raids risked losing vital evidence, but Andrew successfully contested the warrants.
If Democrats take the House, they would gain the power to subpoena individuals, a prospect that could compel Andrew to answer questions he has previously ignored from US lawmakers.
Lawmaker's stance
Subramanyam, who sits on the Oversight Committee, said in a statement: "Democrats will continue to investigate Epstein's crimes and demand answers from Andrew and anyone else involved. I called on the former Prince Andrew to testify and will continue to do so in the next Congress."
He added: "I also fully support giving British law enforcement the Epstein files and assisting with any other criminal investigation."
