In a court filing, Prince Andrew has asked a US judge to dismiss a civil lawsuit in which he is accused of sexually abusing a woman when she was 17-years-old. Andrew said his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, is seeking a “payday” at his expense.
The filing was filed at the end of October in Manhattan. Signed by lawyer Andrew Brettle, the filing reads: “Giuffre has initiated this baseless lawsuit against Prince Andrew to achieve another payday at his expense and at the expense of those closest to him.”
Giuffre, who is now 38, is one of the most prominent accusers of former financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex trafficker who died while awaiting trial in New York back in 2019. Following Epstein’s death, Andrew sat down for an interview with BBC Newsnight to discuss his former friendship with Epstein. In that interview, he vehemently denied allegations made by Ms Giuffre, saying: “I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady.” Shortly after the interview aired, he stepped back from his role as a working member of the Royal Family.
In August, Giuffre sued the Duke of York for unspecified damages, accusing him of forcing her to engage in sexual activity at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell when she was underage. Maxwell, who is currently in custody in New York, is a longtime associate of Epstein. She is awaiting trial on sex trafficking and other charges.
Giuffre also accused the 61-year-old Duke of York of abusing her at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion and on a private island in the US Virgin Islands. The Duke has not been charged with any crime and has “categorically” denied the claims made by Giuffre. The court filing said: “Epstein’s abuse of Giuffre does not justify her public campaign against Prince Andrew.”
The filing noted the case should be dismissed because Giuffre did not state a claim warranting relief. It went on to add that if the dismissal was not granted, Giuffre should provide a more definitive statement of her allegations.
“Accusing a member of the world’s best known royal family of serious misconduct has helped Giuffre create a media frenzy online and in the traditional press. It is unfortunate, but undeniable, that sensationalism and innuendo have prevailed over the truth,” read the document.
A lawyer for Giuffre has not yet commented on the filing. The next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, 3 November.
