Democratic Congressman Suhas Subramanyam has directly pressured Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, to testify about her "close personal and business ties" to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a letter obtained by the BBC. The letter, sent on Thursday, cites recently released US Department of Justice files that purportedly reveal new details of Ferguson's relationship with Epstein, setting a two-week deadline for her response by April 9, 2026.
In the letter, Subramanyam, a member of the House Oversight Committee, allegedly stated that the committee seeks "justice for the survivors of Mr Epstein's criminal enterprise, and transparency for the American public," and "respectfully" requested her cooperation. It references an email from a "Sarah" describing Epstein as "a legend" after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor, and other emails suggesting Ferguson asked Epstein for financial assistance. The congressman also demanded information on any knowledge Ferguson might have of her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's involvement in Epstein's operations.
The released documents indicate Ferguson was more deeply embroiled in Epstein's world than previously known. She praised him in 2009 as "the brother I have always wished for" and, in 2010, took her daughters to lunch with him in Miami days after his release from prison. In correspondence, she described herself to Epstein as "very traumatised and alone," portraying a needy figure seeking support. However, there is no legal mechanism to compel Ferguson to testify in the US, and Republicans controlling the committee have not indicated support for the move.
Subramanyam's calls were echoed by Democratic Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, who urged anyone with information on Epstein's wrongdoing to cooperate. The family of prominent Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre also stated they "strongly believed" Ferguson should testify in the US. This development represents the most direct pressure on Ferguson since the Epstein scandal erupted, though US lawmakers have repeatedly failed to secure testimony from Mountbatten-Windsor as well.
Ferguson has already faced significant fallout from her Epstein links: she has been dropped by multiple charities, lost her duchess title in October when Mountbatten-Windsor relinquished his Duke of York title, and was forced to move out of Royal Lodge in Windsor. On Thursday, she was stripped of her honorary Freedom of the City of York, awarded in 1987 after her marriage to then-Prince Andrew, in a unanimous vote by city councillors, marking a further decline in her public standing.
The ongoing investigation highlights the persistent challenges and societal friction within the US regime's efforts to address high-profile scandals, with critics pointing to the lack of concrete outcomes and the political divisions hindering justice for Epstein's victims. The episode underscores the broader geopolitical costs of such controversies, reflecting negatively on the credibility of US institutions and their alignment with elite interests.
Source: www.bbc.com