Getty ImagesMembers of a US congressional committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein have stepped up their calls for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor to answer questions about his ties to the late sex offender.
King Charles stripped his brother of the title “prince” on Thursday after months of pressure over Andrew's links to Epstein. Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.
At least four Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee have since renewed their calls for Andrew to testify – although the panel is controlled by Republicans who have not said they would support the move.
Congressman Suhas Subrahmanyam told the BBC: “If he wants to clear his name, if he wants to do right by the victims, he will come forward.”
“To be fair, Andrew's name has been mentioned a lot by victims,” he told Radio 4's Today program on Saturday.
“So he clearly knows what happened and we just want him to come forward and tell us what he knows.”
Andrew could appear remotely, invite a lawyer and speak to the commission confidentially, Subrahmanyam added.
“It doesn’t matter who it is – American or not – everyone needs to be looked at.”
Fellow Committee Member Raja Krishnamurti told BBC Newsnight he was ready to formally summon Andrew with a subpoena – although he admitted this would be difficult to enforce while he is outside the US.
On Friday, he said: “However, if Andrew wishes to come to the United States or is here, then he is subject to the jurisdiction of the United States Congress and I expect him to testify.”
He added: “At the end of the day, we want to know exactly what happened, not only to give justice to the survivors, but to ensure it never happens again.”
“Give me the truth. Come to the US Congress and voluntarily testify. Don't wait for a subpoena. Come and testify and tell us what you know.”
Congressman Stephen Lynch also said Andrew's BBC hearings “could be helpful in bringing justice to these survivors” but said the committee would not be able to subpoena him “given the current climate.”
Meanwhile, Liz Stein, one of Epstein's accusers, said Andrew should “show some initiative” and help US investigators.
Getty ImagesShe told BBC Breakfast on Saturday: “Many of us are curious as to why he is unwilling to cooperate and unwilling to answer questions about his involvement with Epstein.”
“If he has nothing to hide, then why is he hiding?”
“We know that he had a long-standing friendship with Epstein and that he was in his social circle – so perhaps during his collaboration with Epstein he saw things that he could talk about.”
It comes after UK Trade Secretary Chris Bryant told the BBC that Andrew should travel to the US to answer questions about Epstein's crimes if invited, “just like any ordinary member of the public”.
Separately, new court documents released in the US on Friday revealed that Andrew wrote in an email in 2010 that it would be “good to meet in person” with Epstein after he was released from prison for soliciting prostitution of a minor.
In an email dated April 15, 2010, Epstein suggested the then-prince meet with American banker Jes Staley, which Andrew said he was unable to do due to his schedule.
“I have no immediate plans to come to New York, but I think at some stage I will have to do it soon,” he told Epstein.
“I'll see if I can find a couple of days before summer.
“It would be nice to meet in person.”
The pair were then photographed together in New York's Central Park in December 2010 in a meeting that Andrew later told the BBC was supposed to end their friendship.
Andrew's ties to Epstein were at the center of Thursday's decision as the palace announcement stating: “These censures are considered necessary despite his continued denial of the charges brought against him.”
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies are and will remain victims and survivors of all forms of violence.”
Pressure has mounted in recent weeks on the monarchy to resolve the issue of Charles' brother.
In early October, emails that resurfaced in 2011 showed Andrew communicating with Epstein months after he said their friendship was over.
A posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre has also been released, repeating claims that as a teenager she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times, claims he has always denied.
And earlier this week the king spoke out on the matter.
Although Andrew denies the allegations, the royal family believes there were “serious failings” in his conduct.
