Epstein case: Virginia Giuffre denounces Prince Andrew for s**xual abuse
With the lawsuit, the Duke of York could be forced to be questioned under oath, as well as deliver text messages, emails or private letters related to the case.
Virginia Giuffre -one of the alleged victims of the American businessman accused of sexual trafficking of girls, Jeffrey Epstein- filed a civil lawsuit in New York against Prince Andrew of England, who claims he abused her when she was a teenager, as reported this Monday (09.08 .2021).
"Today my lawyer filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew for sexual abuse under the Child Victims Act. As the lawsuit explains in detail, I was trafficked to him and sexually abused by him," Giuffre told US media.
In 2019, Giuffre had already said that - after being introduced by Epstein to the Duke of York - the latter forced her to have sex three times between 1999 and 2002, when she was a teenager, something that the son of Queen Elizabeth II has denied. However, Ella Giuffre assured on Monday that she wants to hold Prince Andrew accountable, and send the message that the "rich and powerful are not exempt" from being held accountable in court.
"I hope that other victims see that it is possible not to live in silence and in fear, but to take back your life by speaking publicly and demanding justice," Giuffre said, adding that it was "not easy" to decide to sue, since - as a mother and wife - his family "comes first", and he fears being the target of attacks by a member of the British royal family. "But I knew that if I didn't initiate this action, it would disappoint them and all the victims," she said.
After being publicly accused by Giuffre, Prince Andrew of England "categorically" denied having had sexual relations with her in an interview with the BBC network released in November 2019. "It did not happen. I can tell you categorically that it never happened. I do not remember have ever met this lady", insisted the prince several times in his statements.
The prince, whose friendship with Epstein has caused great controversy, admitted to having stayed several times - about four - at the businessman's residences in the US, but that "at no time" did he suspect that there was inappropriate behavior on the part of Epstein, who committed suicide in a jail cell in New York in August 2019 shortly after being arrested for sex trafficking.
Andrés said he met Epstein through his friend Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of the late press tycoon Robert Maxwell, who has also been arrested and is awaiting trial in New York scheduled for November this year, when he will face to various charges, including sex trafficking.
With the lawsuit, the Duke of York could be forced to be questioned under oath, as well as deliver text messages, emails or private letters related to the case.
ama (efe, ap, afp, independent, the guardian, newsweek)
