US Congressman Ro Khanna Urges Compensation for Epstein Victims: ‘Royal Family Should Be Ashamed’
Ro Khanna argues the monarchy must do more than strip titles after Andrew’s alleged links resurface
Trigger Warning: This article contains themes of sexual abuse that some readers may find distressing.
US Congressman Ro Khanna has called on the British royal family to compensate the victims of convicted offender and financier, Jeffrey Epstein, citing the enduring controversy surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's association with the disgraced financier.
Speaking to the I Paper, the California Democrat framed the issue not as a matter of legal technicalities, but of moral responsibility. “The Royal Family should be ashamed and horrified. They should be compensating each of the working class girls who were victims of the Epstein class,” Khanna said, not mincing any words. Khanna’s comments carry added weight given his role in U.S. efforts to force transparency around Epstein’s network.
He is a co-sponsor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation that passed Congress with near-unanimous support and was later signed into law by President Donald Trump; despite Trump previously dismissing congressional calls to release Epstein-related documents as a “hoax.” For Khanna, the legislation was only one step in a broader reckoning. He reiterated his position days later on social media, writing on X that the royal family “should personally compensate Epstein’s victims.”
The renewed criticism follows the latest release of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice related to the Epstein investigation. Unsealed last Tuesday, the files again highlighted Mountbatten Windsor’s relationship with Epstein, reviving allegations that have hovered over the former royal for years. According to the documents, prosecutors alleged in 2020 that the department had evidence Mountbatten Windsor “engaged in s----- conduct involving one of Epstein’s victims.”
Those allegations echo claims made by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, who said Mountbatten-Windsor s------- exploited her when she was a teenager. Giuffre, who accused both Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell of t---------- her, maintained her account consistently until her death by suicide in April. Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
While Mountbatten Windsor has never faced criminal charges in the United States or the UK, the reputational damage has been severe and enduring. In October, King Charles III stripped his brother of his remaining royal titles and effectively evicted him from Royal Lodge, the Windsor estate mansion Mountbatten Windsor had occupied for years. The move was widely interpreted as an effort to distance the monarchy from a figure who had become a liability.
Yet critics like Khanna argue that these gestures are no longer enough. From his perspective, the issue is not merely Andrew’s individual conduct, but the broader system that insulated him for so long. The Epstein scandal, he suggests, is as much about class and power as it is about criminal acts — and that is where institutions must reckon with their role.
Pressure is also building on Mountbatten-Windsor from U.S. lawmakers. Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee formally requested last month that the former prince testify as part of their ongoing probe into Epstein’s network and potential enablers. Andrew has not responded to the request, further fuelling criticism that accountability has been unevenly applied.
If you are being subjected to sexual assault, or know of anyone who is, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673)
If you know of any children who are being subjected to abuse, please contact The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 422-4453
If you are having thoughts about taking your own life, or know of anyone who is, please contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
