FORMAL SUMMONS BY CONGRESS FOR EX-PRINCE

SCANDAL Andrew with Virginia, & Maxwell BY CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

- BY CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

BRITAIN'S shamed former prince Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was dragged back into the Epstein spotlight last night and formally asked by the US to provide evidence to an investigation into the paedophile's criminal network.

Top Democrat Robert Garcia has written to King Charles' brother, requesting he be interviewed for the ongoing inquiry by the House of Representatives' oversight committee.

The letter, cosigned by 13 Democrats, said the panel was seeking to “understand the full extent of [Epstein's] criminal operations”. It requests a response by November 20.

A source said: “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.”

CONVICTION

The disgraced ex-royal, who denies wrongdoing, is named in documents released by the committee, including flight logs for Epstein’s private jet.

Mr Garcia, who is the most senior Democrat on the committee, wrote that the panel is attempting to identify “co-conspirators and enablers” and urged Andrew to “come clean”.

The letter says: “It has been publicly reported that your friendship with Mr Epstein began in 1999 and that you remained close through and after his 2008 conviction for procuring minors for prostitution.”