Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California’s 17th congressional district, expressed his dismay after King Charles III reportedly declined to meet with survivors of convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“It’s very disappointing after the British Ambassador [Sir Christian Turner] told me that the King would discuss the survivors and sex trafficking,” Khanna, 49, told Us Weekly on Tuesday, April 28. This statement came on the same day Charles, 77, did not appear at a roundtable in Washington, D.C., which brought together Khanna and Epstein survivors.
“The King’s failure to acknowledge the pain his brother caused is a moral failure and emblematic of an elite impunity that is an ongoing affront to survivors,” Khanna added.
The roundtable included Sky Roberts, the younger brother of Virginia Guiffre, an Epstein survivor who accused the monarch’s brother, Prince Andrew, of sexually assaulting her as a teenager. (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has repeatedly denied the allegations.)
Us Weekly has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.
Earlier, Roberts, 36, also criticized Charles—who is visiting the U.S. upon President Donald Trump‘s invitation—for not accepting an invitation to the meeting hosted by Khanna.
“Survivors are here with members of Congress, still fighting to be heard, still pushing for real accountability, while many powerful figures connected to these systems remain out of reach, unable to face survivors,” Roberts said, according to The Guardian. “You would expect this to be a moment for the king to signal to the world that he stands with survivors.”
Rep. Ro Khanna of California DANIEL HEUER / AFP
Following the roundtable, Khanna spoke to the press about Charles’ absence, as reported by ABC’s Eyewitness News.
“I believed the king owed it to the survivors, considering his brother’s serious allegations of abuse. It would have been an incredible moment to show that wealth and power do not make anyone dispensable,” he stated before giving a statement to Us. “Unfortunately, he declined the invitation.”
The New York Times reported last week that a lawyer for Charles and Queen Camilla, who accompanies the king on this U.S. visit, explained Charles’ absence was due to “ongoing police inquiries” in the U.K., leaving him unable to meet survivors or comment directly on the matters under investigation.
King Charles III Jonathan Brady – WPA Pool/Getty Images
According to a letter published on Wednesday, April 22, “the king and queen have consistently expressed their support for all victims of abuse, regardless of how or where it occurs.”
Consequently, Charles did not mention Epstein or his brother’s past association with the late billionaire during his address to Congress earlier that Tuesday.
Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial for child sex trafficking, is still central to a criminal investigation. This investigation is examining Andrew’s professional activities, specifically allegations that he shared confidential government information with the convicted pedophile while in public office.
Andrew, who lost his royal titles in October 2025, has consistently denied all allegations of misconduct.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). https://www.rainn.org/
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
https://www.childhelphotline.org/
