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image source, Virginia Roberts
Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001.
Prince Andrew, one of Queen Elizabeth II’s sons, has reached a settlement in the sexual assault civil lawsuit filed against him in the United States, court documents show.
Virginia Giuffre has accused the Duke of York of sexually assaulting her three times when she was 17, allegations he has repeatedly denied.
A letter filed in US district court on Tuesday says the duke and Giuffre settled out of court. The duke’s representatives said he had no comment beyond the statement made in court.
Under the agreed terms, of which no details disclosedthe prince will make a “substantial donation to Mrs. Giuffre’s charity”.
In addition, the document indicates that the duke “never intended to defame the reputation of Mrs. Giuffre” and that he recognized that she had to suffer both as a “victim of abuse” and for the “unfair public attacks” against her.
The sexual attacks that Giuffre, 38, alleges, would have occurred when he was a teenager and was in the homes of businessman Jeffrey Epstein and his partner Ghislaine Maxwell.
Epstein died in prison in 2019, where he was awaiting trial for trafficking minors.
In December of last year, Maxwell, 60, was found guilty of recruiting and trafficking in underage women who were sexually abused by Epstein.
image source, Archyde.com
Giuffre testified at the recent trial against Ghislaine Maxwell.
As part of the agreement, the Duke also agreed to “show your regret for your association” with Epsteinsupport the “fight against the evils of sex trafficking” and support the victims.
He also praised the “courage of Mrs. Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others,” the agreement says.
Asked for comment on this settlement, Giuffre’s attorney, David Boies, told the PA news agency: “I think this event speaks for itself.”
Lisa Bloom, an attorney representing several of Epstein’s accusers, said the settlement is a “victoria” for Giuffre.
The Epstein Affair
Giuffre maintains that she was a victim of sex trafficking and abuse from the age of 16 by a trafficking network created by New York financier Epstein.
He maintains that, as part of the abuse, was brought before powerful menincluding Prince Andrew, who is the Queen’s third son and ninth in line to the British throne.
In particular, the 61-year-old Duke was accused by Giuffre of sexually assaulting her. three times: at Ghislaine Maxwell’s London home, at Epstein’s mansion in New York, and at Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands.
Prince Andrew is the third son of Queen Elizabeth II.
In a 2019 interview with the BBCthe prince said he did not remember meeting Giuffre and that the alleged meeting in London “did not happen”.
In January, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that the civil action against the duke was admissible.
Buckingham Palace later announced that they were withdrawn military titles and royal patronages al the prince. A royal source said that he too would stop using his Royal Highness as his official title.
“The Cost to Your Reputation”
Analysis by Sean Coughlan, correspondent royalty
The agreement reached between Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre prevents the Royal House from entering a disaster zone and a court battle in New York. Although the amounts are not disclosed, this will come at a very significant financial cost to the prince.
But there is also the cost to your reputation.
Prince Andrew, whose legal team attacked Giuffre’s claims, signed a statement acknowledging her as a “victim of abuse” and praising her “courage”.
The agreement avoids any suggestion that the prince is personally involved in a crime, but it also says nothing about removing the accusations Giuffre made against him.
It means that this potentially damaging civil trial is over and the queen’s jubilee year will not be marred by negative headlines.
But the duke ends up paying and expressing regret, rather than clear his name.
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