One congressional aide said: “He knows Congress can’t subpoena him abroad, so staying away is his only shield.”
Another claimed: “There’s a feeling he will die without ever stepping foot back in America. That’s how deep Andrew’s fear of facing questioning in America appears to run.”
In London, Windsor’s advisers have declined to comment on the congressional request. But a source familiar with his thinking said: “He sees no legal obligation to go, and absolutely no personal incentive either. He feels he has already said everything.”
Another source put it more starkly, adding: “Crossing the Atlantic is basically stepping into a political minefield. Andrew will never do it.”
A longtime observer of the monarchy added: “If he refuses to cooperate, Americans will assume the worst. But if he does cooperate, he risks being humiliated. It’s a lose-lose.”
For immediately, the oversight committee says it is awaiting a reply from Windsor. But members insist the issue will not fade.
One source said: “This isn’t going away. Whether Andrew talks to Congress or not, the questions will keep coming.”
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