U.S. lawmakers are escalating pressure on Sarah Ferguson to testify under oath in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, as newly surfaced Department of Justice documents renew scrutiny of her past communications and risk extending the fallout to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Members of the House Oversight Committee, including Congressman Suhas Subramanyam and Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury, have publicly urged the former Duchess of York to cooperate, arguing she may hold relevant information tied to Epstein's activities and the broader failures surrounding his prosecution. While Congress lacks the authority to compel testimony from a British national, officials are signaling willingness to accommodate voluntary participation under oath.
"Sarah Ferguson should give sworn testimony to our committee," Subramanyam said in a BBC interview, adding that lawmakers believe she possesses "information related to the investigation." He noted the committee would "work out terms that work for her," provided the testimony is given under oath.
The renewed calls follow the unsealing of Justice Department files in January that detailed Ferguson's email exchanges with Epstein in June 2009, shortly before his release from a Florida jail after serving time for soliciting a minor. In one message dated June 14, she sought advice on her charity, Mothers Army. Another, dated June 26, expressed personal warmth toward Epstein. On July 27, she arranged a lunch at his Palm Beach residence with her daughters, then aged 21 and 19, while Epstein remained under house arrest.
The disclosures have intensified demands from legal advocates and victims' representatives. Gloria Allred, who represents several Epstein victims, said Ferguson's cooperation is "long overdue," emphasizing that she "is not the victim in this story." A spokesman for Sky Roberts, brother of Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, added: "If Ferguson knows anything, she should testify in the United States immediately."
Democratic Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury framed the issue more broadly, saying, "If Ferguson or any member of their family has such information, our responsibility is to follow the facts wherever they lead." The language reflects a widening investigative lens that increasingly encompasses not only Epstein's associates but also those who may have interacted with him after his conviction.
Ferguson's position is complicated by her past statements and associations. In a 2011 email referenced in the material, she described Epstein as her "supreme friend," years after his conviction. Biographer Andrew Lownie has described her as a "material witness," citing her repeated presence at Epstein's properties and her proximity to key figures during that period.
Her legal and reputational risks are substantial. Jonathan Coad, her former lawyer, cautioned against any appearance before U.S. lawmakers. "Of course she won't go, and if she were still my client, my very strong advice to her would be not to go," he told the BBC. "It would be a disaster for her, for her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, and also for Andrew, as it would show him up for not going."
The potential impact on Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie is emerging as a central concern. Both have sought to maintain distance from the Epstein scandal in recent years, building independent professional lives while avoiding direct public engagement with the controversy. Renewed congressional attention risks pulling them back into a narrative they have worked to leave behind.
