DISGRACED Andrew has ignored US lawmakers’ pleas to come clean over his “long-standing friendship” with Jeffrey Epstein, it is understood.
The former Duke of York, 65, had until today to respond to calls from the US Congress to explain his links to the convicted sex offender.
But Andrew – who was last month stripped of his “Style, Title and Honours” has ignored the invitation, The Times reports.
Donald Trump has since signed a bill forcing the release of investigative files on the late paedo financier.
Following his failure to respond, congressmen have accused the disgraced royal of “hiding” this week.
Andrew is under no legal obligation to fly to Washington and the former Prince vehemently denies all allegations against him.
Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, who was among 16 Democrats who signed the letter, said he “has been hiding from us”.
He added: “I think he will continue to try to hide from people doing meaningful investigations of this matter.
“Even if Andrew doesn’t voluntarily come forward, there may be others who are close to him who may come forward and provide us information.
“I think the documents have given us a lot of information over the past six months.
“We’re going to continue to press on with finding evidence and let the evidence do the talking. So far, the evidence keeps talking about Andrew.”
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which is investigating Epstein, wrote to Andrew earlier this month.
It wrote: “Well-documented allegations against you, along with your long-standing friendship with Mr Epstein, indicate that you may possess knowledge of his activities relevant to our investigation.”
He was urged to cooperate “in the interests of justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein”.
The Committee cited reports of his friendship with the sex offender, including that they travelled together to the late Queen’s Balmoral home.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie previously called for a “reckoning” in America for anyone with links to the late paedophile financier.
He said: “There’s becoming a reckoning in Britain that needs to happen in the United States.
“A prince lost his title, the ambassador to the United States lost his job.
“We need to see those same kind of consequences here.”
Andy came under fire after his name came up in Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous book about her experiences with Epstein.
Virginia was trafficked by the paedo financier as a teenager.
Trump has now completed the final step to release the Epstein files that have long been the subject of wild speculations.
The bill, which has now become a law, requires the Department of Justice to release all files and communications on Epstein within 30 days.
Uncovered emails show Epstein calling Andrew “great fun” and recommending a friend to meet up with him.
The exchange between the convicted paedo and Boris Nikolic, adviser to Bill Gates, happened via email in January 2010.
This was just six months after Epstein was released from prison in Florida, having served time for procuring a minor for prostitution.
The conversation released by the US Congress begins with Epstein asking Nikolic, if he’s had “any fun” at Davos so far.
Nickolic responds with: “Different kind of fun … Met your friend Bill Clinton yesterday, followed up with [Nicolas] Sarkozy.
“Later in the day meeting your other friend Prince Andrew as he has some questions re Microsoft.”
Epstein responds: “You can tell Andrew we are friends.”
Another email sent to Epstein appeared to claim Andrew “had consensual sex” with one of the vile paedo’s employees.
Landon Thomas Jr warned Epstein he must ditch the former Prince as he appeared to claim their public relationship was “keeping the story alive”.
Responding to an email from Epstein in January 2015, Thomas Jr wrote: “I think the big issue is separating yourself from Andrew.
“I mean, I can see why a statement might help in some way – but it’s Andrew [not Clinton and the rest] that is keeping the story alive.”
Clinton appears to refer to former US president Bill Clinton.
The ex-US leader has never been accused of any wrongdoing and has strongly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s sex trafficking crimes.
Thomas Jr goes on to say: “Until you are able to come forward and address that, the story lives on.
“I mean in the end he had consensual sex with [redacted]. And [redacted] worked for you. The rest is atmospherics.
“You have moved on! People don’t know that and can’t accept that unless you say as much.”
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was last month stripped of his royal titles by King Charles as pressure continued to mount over the Epstein scandal.
Formal notice was also served for Andy to surrender the “cast-iron” lease on his 30-room home at Royal Lodge in the Windsor Estate.
Earlier this week, Andrew broke cover for the first time since being stripped of his royal titles by his brother King Charles.
He looked stressed as he chatted to a female companion while out riding in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
It comes as Vanity Fair’s Katie Nicholl told the Sun’s Royal Exclusive show there could “very possibly be more” allegations against Andrew.
The Royal correspondent said: “Well, I think everyone in the royal family is hoping that we’ve heard the last of the Andrew allegations.
“Of course, you know, if the Epstein files are made completely public and this sort of drip-feeding ends, then you could be in for a deluge, right?
“We don’t really know, and I think what’s been so extraordinary about this story is there’s a bit like it’s had a boomerang effect, right?
“It keeps coming back, just when you think it’s stopped… it comes back in the most extraordinary, and for Andrew, catastrophic, catastrophic ways.”
