Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor under fresh pressure in the US as Democrats pledge to "get creative" in investigation

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor under fresh pressure in the US as Democrats pledge to "get creative" in investigation Democrats issue new vow to “get creative” in helping British police investigate former Prince Andrew over his friendship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein Former Prince Andrew is now under increased pressure in the United States following the Democrats stunning political victories last week. They have vowed to “get creative” in helping British police investigate Mountbatten-Windsor. And - after taking control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives - the Democrats pledged to renew their demand that the explosive unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files are handed over to the Metropolitan Police - in full. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley made a high profile visit to the US in March. Suhas Subramanyam, who sits on the powerful House Oversight Committee, said they will have to think differently on how they approach the case. The former prince has so far ignored a request from the committee to testify - as a foreign national, he cannot be forced to. Mountbatten-Windsor has always firmly denied all allegations against him. But Mr Subramanyam said this decision has been taken as a sign he has “something to hide”. He added: “We're going to continue to push for information, and if they are in newly released files or testimony we will find out. “It's in Andrew's best interests to co-operate. If you're not willing to co-operate with an investigation into the sexual assault and trafficking of underage girls, that is very questionable in my mind. Staff, secretaries, other people around Epstein. We'll have to get creative.” At the time of his visit Sir Mark said: "Of course, there's a big body of that evidence... in the United States in all those files and at some stage we're going to need the unredacted evidence. "We need the original copy, and where it came from, and that's going to be necessary if we get to the stage of court cases." In 2022 Mountbatten-Windsor paid a reported £12million to Virginia Giuffre, who claimed that Epstein trafficked her to have sex with the former prince three times in 2001 when she was 17. Ms Giuffre took her own life last year. The Democrats' victory in the midterm elections will give them control of Congress from January for the next two years. Mr Subramanyam said they will also 'keep pushing' the DoJ to hand over the unredacted Epstein files needed by Scotland Yard to continue its stalled probe into Lord Mandelson, sacked as Britain's ambassador to the US last year as the full extent of his relationship with the disgraced financier became clear. Mr Subramanyam added: “We cannot compel the DoJ to release information to UK police. We're going to keep pushing on that.' If the DoJ still refuse, he said they will then use their powers to 'find information from other sources'. Earlier this year the Mirror revealed that Mountbatten-Windsor’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson made it clear she would not be returning to the US fearing being questioned. An insider told the Mirror: “Sarah has made it clear to those around her she will never set foot in America again. She is deeply worried about the reaction she would face, whether from Epstein’s victims or scrutiny from Congress. "She feels it would be unbearable and does not want to be put in a position under oath where she would be asked not only about Epstein but also about Andrew. It has not been a difficult decision despite how deeply entrenched in America she once was.” As a non-US citizen, Ferguson, 66, is not compelled to appear before Congress or respond to the request.