Sarah Ferguson is facing mounting pressure to testify to US officials about her links to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The former Duchess of York has not been seen publicly for months as the scandal surrounding her and her ex-husband Prince Andrew’s friendship with the disgraced financier deepens.
Members of Congress have joined calls for the 66-year-old to give evidence under oath to the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the handling of Epstein’s prosecution. Committee member Suhas Subramanyam said he believed she had “information related to the investigation” and that she “should give sworn testimony to our committee”. There is no legal mechanism to compel her to testify in the US, but the Democratic congressman said lawmakers would be “happy to work out terms that work for her”, provided she was under oath.
Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury echoed the calls, urging anyone with information of wrongdoing by Epstein and his associates to cooperate. The family of the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew of sexual abuse (which he denies), said they “strongly” believe Ms Ferguson should answer questions in the US. A representative for Ms Giuffre’s brother added: “If Ferguson knows anything, she should testify in the United States immediately.”
Pressure on Ferguson has intensified after emails emerged in the latest tranche of Epstein files, revealing the depth of her friendship with the sex offender. An email from 2009 saw her call Epstein the “brother I have always wished for”, and in 2010 she called him a “legend”. The documents also suggest she took her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to lunch with Epstein shortly after his release from prison. Being named in the files is not an indication of wrongdoing.
Ferguson lost her duchess title in October when Prince Andrew relinquished his Duke of York title over his Epstein links. She was also forced to move out of Royal Lodge. Her current whereabouts are unknown, with unconfirmed reports placing her in the UAE, Portugal, Switzerland, or Ireland. Media lawyer Jonathan Coad, who has represented her in the past, said there was “no chance” she would testify in the US, calling it a “disaster” for her and her family.
