Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been formally asked to provide evidence to a US congressional committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal network.

Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, has written to the former Duke of York, requesting that he take part in a transcribed interview as part of the panel’s ongoing inquiry. The letter, today co-signed by 13 other Democrats, said the committee is seeking to “understand the full extent of [Epstein’s] criminal operations.”

It requests a response by November 20.

A source told the Mirror: “Any idea that the Epstein scandal was fading into the background is over. This is extremely serious for Andrew. The fact Congress now wants to question him means this won’t simply disappear with time. Whatever hopes there were of the issue dying down have evaporated. The Americans are turning up the heat.

“For Andrew, this drags everything right back into the spotlight, and there is no easy route out.”

The disgraced royal, who denies wrongdoing, is named in documents obtained and released by the committee, including flight logs.

Garcia wrote that the committee is attempting to identify “co-conspirators and enablers.”

Despite the request, disgraced Andrew is not compelled to comply. Garcia does not have subpoena power, and Congress cannot force testimony from foreign nationals.

The request was issued without the backing of the committee’s Republican majority. A spokesperson for the Republicans said: “Rather than assisting in the Oversight Committee’s legitimate investigation by joining the majority to enforce subpoenas issued to former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Democrat Ranking Member Garcia continues to chase headlines and material for his next TikTok video.

“Ranking Member Garcia does not speak for the Committee, and his letters carry no Committee authority.”

Democrats on the committee have previously released documents independently, including a drawing of a woman’s body signed “Donald”, included in a greetings book compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday.

Donald Trump denied writing the message or that the signature was his. The president has said he ended his friendship with Epstein, stating in 2019: “I had a falling-out with him a long time ago. I don’t think I’ve spoken to him for 15 years. I wasn’t a fan.”

Garcia said: “Rich and powerful men have evaded justice for far too long. Now, former Prince Andrew has the opportunity to come clean and provide justice for the survivors. Oversight Democrats will not stop fighting for accountability and transparency for survivors of Epstein and his gang of co-conspirators.”

Andrew, now a private citizen, has faced sustained scrutiny following allegations made by Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked by Epstein as a teenager and forced to have sex with him. She died earlier this year by suicide.

Following the publication of her posthumous memoir last month, King Charles removed Andrew’s “prince” title and is evicting him from Royal Lodge. Andrew settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre for a reported £12 million in 2022 without admitting liability.

In a 2019 BBC interview, he said he had “no recollection” of meeting her and said “under the right circumstances” he would testify under oath. “If push came to shove and the legal advice was to do so, then I would be duty-bound to do so,” he said.

He acknowledged he had met Epstein before and after the financier’s first conviction and confirmed visits to Epstein’s island and private plane. He also confirmed Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell visited Windsor Castle and Sandringham.

Recently, an email was published, reportedly from Andrew to Epstein in February 2011, reading: “… keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon!!!!”

Andrew is expected to move to Sandringham. Meanwhile, pressure continues in Washington to release further government-held documents relating to Epstein.

A bipartisan effort led by lawmakers Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna aims to force a vote through a discharge petition, which requires 218 signatures.

Democrats have criticised House Speaker Mike Johnson for delaying the swearing-in of Democrat Adelita Grijalva, who has pledged to provide the 218th signature. The Department of Justice has not yet released its full case files.