US lawmakers urge Sarah Ferguson to say what she knew about Andrew’s Epstein links
A senior US lawmaker has asked Sarah Ferguson to testify about her “close personal and business ties” to Jeffrey Epstein.
Congressman Suhas Subramanyam wrote to the former duchess “respectfully requesting your cooperation” as she appeared before the US congressional committee investigating the convicted pedophile.
While there is no legal mechanism to force Ms Ferguson to testify, the letter, first reported by the BBC, is the most direct form of pressure she has faced since the scandal emerged.
The letter, sent on Thursday and setting a two-week deadline, also asks whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had any knowledge of his involvement in the disgraced financier’s operations. The former Duke has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein.
The report included emails she sent to Epstein after he was convicted of soliciting prostitution of a minor in 2008, in which Epstein described her as a “legend” and another in which he wrote, “I am at your service. Just marry me.”
In another, he wrote to her to ask for financial help, requesting to borrow £50,000 or £100,000 to “help deal with the little bills that are weighing me down”.
The letter said: “In addition, although you were formally divorced from the former Prince Andrew in 1996, the committee is interested in learning more about any information regarding Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s involvement in Mr Epstein’s operations.
“It is clear that you have social and business ties to Mr. Epstein and have information that could assist our investigation,” he continued.
“I ask that you cooperate with the committee’s investigation and provide information about the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and his collaborators.
“Due to the urgency of this issue, I request you to respond by April 9, 2026 at the latest.”
Recent information from the Epstein files has revealed a close relationship between Ms. Ferguson and Epstein; Epstein often praised himself as “the brother I always wished for.”
It was also claimed that he took his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, to lunch a few days after he was released from prison.
The presence of his name in the Epstein files is not an indication of any wrongdoing.
The family of the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused Epstein, also said they “strongly believe” the former duchess should testify in the US.
A representative for Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, told the BBC: “If Ferguson knows anything, he should testify in the US immediately.”
It comes after the City of York Council stripped him of the title of Freedom of the City of York during a meeting in the Guildhall on Thursday evening.
Speaking during the debate, Liberal Democrat councilor Darryl Smalley said: “Following the release of thousands of documents, we now know that Sarah Ferguson also had a close friendship with Epstein and that this friendship continued well beyond his conviction.
“We don’t expect those awarded York’s highest honor to become saints. We just don’t want them to be the best friends of convicted pedophiles.”
“We stand with the victims. We defend the rule of law. We defend integrity.”
He added: “York will hopefully have revealed our city’s connections to both Andrew and Sarah.”
Six companies linked to the former duchess began shutting down following the publication of the Epstein files, according to Companies House documents.
Sarah’s Trust, the charity she founded, has also announced it will close “for the foreseeable future”. Ms. Ferguson’s representatives have been reached for comment.
