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Prince Andrew arrested in UK on public misconduct charges
Members of the US Congress have intensified calls for action against associates of the late Jeffrey Epstein following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, in the United Kingdom. The arrest, made on suspicion of misconduct in public office, has reignited scrutiny over the royal's ties to Epstein.
Lawmakers react to arrest
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who co-sponsored legislation forcing the release of Epstein-related documents, described the arrest as a pivotal moment. "Prince Andrew was just arrested," Massie wrote on X. "Now we need JUSTICE in the United States."
Democratic Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, urged the former prince to testify in the US. "If he did nothing wrong, then he should clear his name," Subramanyam told the BBC. He added that lawmakers were prepared to travel to the UK to facilitate discussions, emphasizing that Mountbatten-Windsor could not be legally compelled to appear.
"I think a lot of victims actually liked seeing him lose his title. They knew how involved he was with Epstein and Maxwell and saw that for decades now there has been a lack of accountability for rich and powerful people."
Suhas Subramanyam, US Congressman
Calls for broader accountability
Subramanyam and fellow Democrat Ro Khanna credited their efforts to release the Epstein files as a catalyst for the arrest. "Even princes are not above the law," Khanna wrote on social media, referencing an email allegedly showing Mountbatten-Windsor sharing state information with Epstein.
Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who previously called for the former prince's arrest, marked the occasion on his 66th birthday. "Today, that call was answered," she said. "Who's next? We will not stop until every co-conspirator, every enabler, and every powerful figure who hid behind wealth and connections is held fully accountable."
Allegations and investigations
The specific charges against Mountbatten-Windsor relate to misconduct in public office, not sexual offenses. UK police are investigating a complaint alleging he shared confidential material with Epstein. The former prince, stripped of his titles last year, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Mountbatten-Windsor's name appeared in the Epstein files released by the US Justice Department, alongside other high-profile figures such as Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and former US Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. While inclusion in the files does not imply criminal activity, lawmakers have vowed to pursue further investigations.
"No one connected to Jeffrey Epstein will escape accountability for their crimes. Our work is just beginning, and we will pursue justice for every individual who participated in the abuse of women and girls."
House Oversight Committee Democrats
International responses
Former US President Donald Trump commented on the arrest during a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One. "I think it's a shame, I think it's very sad, I think it's so bad for the royal family," he said. "It's really interesting because nobody used to speak about Epstein when he was alive, but now they speak."
In the UK, lawmakers and investigators continue to assess the complaint against Mountbatten-Windsor. Meanwhile, US Congress has extended an invitation to Lord Peter Mandelson, former British Ambassador to the US, to testify about his ties to Epstein. Mandelson's legal team declined the request, citing an ongoing investigation by London's Metropolitan Police.
