One of the US politicians investigating the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein told ITV News there are “images and videos” that have not yet been released and thinks “it’s very likely, very possible that Prince Andrew was being blackmailed” by Epstein.
Congressman Suhas Subramanyam is calling on the Prince to testify before the House Oversight Committee, of which he is a member, either in person or virtually, to “clear his name”.
He said Prince Andrew has “handled himself the way a guilty person would” and should agree to talk either in public or behind closed doors, to the 46 members of Congress tasked with scrutinising the crimes of Epstein.
"This is about making sure that rich and powerful people don’t get away with these heinous crimes, regardless of how much money they have or how much power they have," he said.
Subramanyam issued a direct appeal to the royal and said, "If he’s watching this, please come to the United States. Tell us what you know and clear your name before our committee.
"We would love to have you. And if he did nothing wrong, then come to our committee. And if he did do something wrong, we still want to know the information about what you know and what other people may have done as well…He has an opportunity to clear his name.
"And so I would ask Prince Andrew to come and let’s talk under no obligation."
The Committee cannot subpoena a non-US citizen, so there is no way to compel Prince Andrew to comply.
Subramanyam claimed that Andrew “hasn’t handled himself in a way that an innocent person would handle themselves".
"He’s been very defensive," he continued.
The Democrat Representative from the 10th District in Virginia is basing his information and views largely on the multiple hearings the Committee has held in private, all of which Subramanyam has attended.
Subramanyam said that the hearing that the Committee held in September with victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes was especially informative.
Some six victims testified in private before the Committee; their identities were not disclosed in order to protect them.
“We’re looking for bank records, and some of that isn’t necessarily in the FBI’s possession. Some of that is actually in the possession of banks, and we’re trying to get that information because many victims have told us to follow the money,” Subramanyam said.
He added he “wouldn’t be surprised if Prince Andrew comes up again” when, and if, the full files on Epstein are released.
Subramanyam continued: “I wouldn’t be surprised if there were other victims as well who encountered Prince Andrew, but again, I let the evidence tell the story. And, you know, many of the victims have said that if the files are released and the bank records are in our possession, we will be able to see the names.”
Prince Andrew has strenuously denied ever meeting Virginia Giuffre, despite a photo of the pair together, which Andrew claims is a forgery. Giuffre took her own life last April.
Giuffre’s posthumous biography, released this week, alleged she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions, including during an orgy on Epstein’s Caribbean island, Little St.James, which involved eight other underage girls.
She claimed in the book that she lost a baby shortly after the incident, although she did not claim Prince Andrew was the father.
Prince Andrew denies ever having visited the island and has denied doing anything wrong.
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