A fresh batch of over 20,000 pages from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, released Wednesday night by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has thrust Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – once known as Prince Andrew – back into the glare of international controversy. Among the trove of emails, flight logs, and financial records are explosive exchanges between the disgraced financier, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and “The Duke,” a pseudonym clearly referring to Andrew, in which he urgently requests public statements absolving him of knowledge about emerging claims tied to Epstein’s network.

The documents, provided by Epstein’s estate in response to a congressional subpoena, span more than a decade and name-drop a who’s who of global elites, including former President Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel. But the most immediate bombshell centers on Andrew, whose pleas for exoneration from Epstein and Maxwell in early 2011 directly contradict his later public timeline of severing ties with the convicted sex offender.

In a March 4, 2011 email thread, “The Duke” writes: “I am NOT involved and … I knew and know NOTHING about any of these allegations.” The message, forwarded by Maxwell to Epstein, comes amid reports from a British tabloid – later identified as the Mail on Sunday – preparing to publish details of Andrew’s associations with Epstein. “I can’t take any more of this,” Andrew adds in a follow-up, referencing the mounting media pressure. Epstein’s response, per the files, is curt: “Understood. We’ll handle the narrative.”

This exchange occurred four months after Andrew has repeatedly claimed he ended his friendship with Epstein in late 2010, following the financier’s arrest on sex trafficking charges. In a now-infamous 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, Andrew insisted he had “no recollection” of key events and cut off contact “immediately” upon Epstein’s legal troubles. The emails, authenticated by committee forensic experts, suggest otherwise – painting a picture of ongoing coordination even as allegations simmered.

Andrew, 65, was stripped of his royal titles and military affiliations by his brother, King Charles III, in October 2025, amid renewed attention from the posthumous release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir last month. Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most vocal accusers who died in 2024, alleged in the book that she was coerced into encounters with Andrew on three occasions: at Maxwell’s London townhouse, Epstein’s Manhattan mansion, and the financier’s private island, Little St. James. Andrew has consistently denied any involvement, settling a 2022 civil suit with Giuffre for an undisclosed sum without admitting liability.

The Oversight Committee’s release, announced by Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), aims to “shed light on Epstein’s web of influence” as part of a broader probe into elite accountability. Democrats on the panel, including Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), seized the moment to renew calls for Andrew to testify voluntarily. “These emails raise grave questions about what the former prince knew and when,” Raskin said in a statement. “If he wants to clear his name, Congress is waiting.”

The files also corroborate a long-debated photograph from 2001 showing Andrew with his arm around a then-17-year-old Giuffre at Maxwell’s London home. In a separate 2011 email, Epstein tells Maxwell: “Yes, she was on my plane and yes, she had her photo taken with Andrew, as many of my employees have.” Andrew previously suggested the image might be manipulated, claiming “absolutely no memory” of the encounter.

Beyond Andrew, the documents ripple across political lines. Epstein’s June 2019 emails with Steve Bannon – Trump’s former chief strategist – reference Andrew and Trump in a mocking tone: “Prince Andrew and Trump today… Too funny. Recall Prince Andrew’s accuser came out of Mar-a-Lago.” Bannon, redacted in the files but confirmed by sources, replies: “Can’t believe nobody is making you the connective tissue.” The exchange, days before Epstein’s arrest, underscores the financier’s penchant for leveraging connections.

Trump himself features prominently. In April 2011 emails, Epstein describes Trump’s business dealings as “dirty” while discussing a potential real estate deal. Another thread, redacted to protect a victim’s identity (believed to be Giuffre), notes Trump “spent hours” with an unnamed associate at Epstein’s Palm Beach estate – though committee Republicans emphasize no wrongdoing is alleged. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed the mentions as “old news,” pointing to Trump’s 2002 quote calling Epstein a “terrific guy” but noting their fallout years prior.

Bill Clinton’s name surfaces in flight logs from Epstein’s “Lolita Express” jet, listing trips to Africa in 2002 for Clinton Foundation work – corroborated by prior releases but absent new allegations. Tech moguls fare no better: Messages log Epstein’s outreach to Elon Musk in 2018 about a SpaceX advisory role, and financial ledgers show wire transfers to Peter Thiel-linked entities, though both deny involvement.

Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Epstein’s trafficking ring, looms large in the correspondence. Her replies to Andrew are supportive yet evasive: “We’ll craft the statement – you’re clean on this.” The emails, seized from Epstein’s Palm Beach safe, were part of a third batch produced in September 2025, including phone logs from 2002-2005 and aircraft manifests from 1990-2019.

Public reaction has been swift and polarized. On X, #EpsteinFiles trended globally with 5.2 million posts by Thursday morning, blending outrage over elite impunity with conspiracy theories. Victim advocates, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, praised the release but urged faster action: “Transparency is step one; prosecutions are the goal.” Buckingham Palace declined comment, citing Andrew’s private status, while a spokesperson reiterated his “categoric denial” of Giuffre’s claims.

The Oversight probe, launched in 2024 under bipartisan auspices, has yielded incremental wins: Epstein’s estate has complied with subpoenas for 50,000+ pages total. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced Thursday a floor vote next week on a bill mandating full declassification of remaining files, accelerating the timeline amid election-year pressures.

For Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, holed up at his Windsor estate post-title stripping, the emails represent a personal nadir. Once third in line to the throne, he’s now a cautionary tale of scandal’s long shadow. As one anonymous royal insider told The Times of London: “He thought Epstein was a fading chapter. These files just ripped it open.”

The documents don’t prove new crimes but erode old defenses – a reminder that Epstein’s legacy isn’t buried in a jail cell but scattered across inboxes and ledgers. As Democrats push for Andrew’s testimony, the question lingers: Will the former duke step forward, or let silence speak for him?

In Washington, the Oversight Committee vows more releases. For survivors like Giuffre’s family, it’s validation amid grief. For the public, it’s a stark audit of power’s underbelly – where pleas for ignorance ring hollow against a mountain of evidence