WASHINGTON — A US lawmaker has made a direct plea to Sarah Ferguson to testify about her “close personal and business ties” to Jeffrey Epstein, according to the BBC.Congressman Suhas Subramanyam urged her to provide information to the US congressional committee investigating the late sex offender. He also asked for any knowledge she had of her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s involvement in Epstein’s operations.The plea represents the most direct pressure on the former duchess to testify since the start of the Epstein scandal.At the weekend, the BBC revealed that some US lawmakers were calling for Ferguson to give evidence concerning her links to Epstein.There is no legal mechanism to compel the former duchess to testify in the US.In his letter, which was sent to Ferguson on Thursday and set a two-week deadline for her to respond, Democratic Congressman Subramanyam, a member of the House Oversight Committee, said the recent drop of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice had revealed her “close personal and business ties” with the American financier.”As the committee seeks justice for the survivors of Mr Epstein’s criminal enterprise, and transparency for the American public, I respectfully request your co-operation with the committee’s investigation,” he wrote.Meanwhile, Ferguson has been stripped of the “freedom of the city of York” by councillors.The former Duchess of York had the honor removed following a unanimous council vote on Thursday evening.City of York Council members passed the motion during a meeting at the Guildhall, following fresh revelations about her connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a New York prison in 2019.Ferguson is mentioned several times among the millions of documents released by the US Department of Justice as part of the Epstein files. Being named in the files is not evidence of wrongdoing.The “freedom of the city” honor is a ceremonial role, awarded to notable figures. It does not grant any “privileges” in the city, according to York council’s website.Andrew was stripped of the same honor in 2022. The couple were jointly awarded the status in 1987 following their wedding.In October, Ferguson lost her Duchess of York title when her ex-husband also had his royal title removed, although at the time she had only been using her first and last name in a professional capacity.Liberal Democrat Darryl Smalley, who proposed the motion to strip Andrew of the honor in 2022, told Thursday’s meeting that previously he had not wanted to do the same to Ms Ferguson.He said: “At the time, it felt wrong to judge someone by the actions of their ex-husband.”[But] we now know, following the release of thousands of documents, that Sarah Ferguson, too, had a close friendship with Epstein, which continued well beyond his conviction.”We don’t expect the recipients of York’s highest honor to be saints. We simply do not want them to be best friends of convicted paedophiles.”The council’s Labour leader Claire Douglas added: “Honorary freedom is bestowed only on persons of distinction and those having given eminent services to the city of York.”As the people of York would expect, holding this status requires upholding the values and behaviours consistent with such an honor.”Those who continued to associate with Epstein after his crimes became widely known fall well short of these expectations.”Her charity, Sarah’s Trust, also announced it would close “for the foreseeable future”.WASHINGTON — A US lawmaker has made a direct plea to Sarah Ferguson to testify about her “close personal and business ties” to Jeffrey Epstein, according to the BBC.Congressman Suhas Subramanyam urged her to provide information to the US congressional committee investigating the late sex offender. He also asked for any knowledge she had of her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s involvement in Epstein’s operations.The plea represents the most direct pressure on the former duchess to testify since the start of the Epstein scandal.At the weekend, the BBC revealed that some US lawmakers were calling for Ferguson to give evidence concerning her links to Epstein.There is no legal mechanism to compel the former duchess to testify in the US.In his letter, which was sent to Ferguson on Thursday and set a two-week deadline for her to respond, Democratic Congressman Subramanyam, a member of the House Oversight Committee, said the recent drop of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice had revealed her “close personal and business ties” with the American financier.”As the committee seeks justice for the survivors of Mr Epstein’s criminal enterprise, and transparency for the American public, I respectfully request your co-operation with the committee’s investigation,” he wrote.Meanwhile, Ferguson has been stripped of the “freedom of the city of York” by councillors.The former Duchess of York had the honor removed following a unanimous council vote on Thursday evening.City of York Council members passed the motion during a meeting at the Guildhall, following fresh revelations about her connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a New York prison in 2019.Ferguson is mentioned several times among the millions of documents released by the US Department of Justice as part of the Epstein files. Being named in the files is not evidence of wrongdoing.The “freedom of the city” honor is a ceremonial role, awarded to notable figures. It does not grant any “privileges” in the city, according to York council’s website.Andrew was stripped of the same honor in 2022. The couple were jointly awarded the status in 1987 following their wedding.In October, Ferguson lost her Duchess of York title when her ex-husband also had his royal title removed, although at the time she had only been using her first and last name in a professional capacity.Liberal Democrat Darryl Smalley, who proposed the motion to strip Andrew of the honor in 2022, told Thursday’s meeting that previously he had not wanted to do the same to Ms Ferguson.He said: “At the time, it felt wrong to judge someone by the actions of their ex-husband.”[But] we now know, following the release of thousands of documents, that Sarah Ferguson, too, had a close friendship with Epstein, which continued well beyond his conviction.”We don’t expect the recipients of York’s highest honor to be saints. We simply do not want them to be best friends of convicted paedophiles.”The council’s Labour leader Claire Douglas added: “Honorary freedom is bestowed only on persons of distinction and those having given eminent services to the city of York.”As the people of York would expect, holding this status requires upholding the values and behaviours consistent with such an honor.”Those who continued to associate with Epstein after his crimes became widely known fall well short of these expectations.”Her charity, Sarah’s Trust, also announced it would close “for the foreseeable future”.
