Prince Andrew denies being co-conspirator of
Epstein and insists on jury trial
Duke denies Jeffrey Epstein
‘trafficked girls to him’ and demands trial in Virginia Giuffre’s sexual abuse
lawsuit
Victoria Bekiempis in New York
Wed 26 Jan
2022 20.33 GMT
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/26/prince-andrew-jeffrey-epstein-lawyers-court
Prince Andrew has denied that he was a
co-conspirator of Jeffrey Epstein, and insisted on a jury trial in Virginia
Giuffre’s sexual abuse lawsuit against him, his lawyers said in court papers
filed on Wednesday.
“Prince Andrew hereby demands a trial by jury
on all causes of action asserted in the complaint,” his lawyers wrote. The Duke
of York also denies that Epstein “trafficked girls to him”, the attorneys said
in their legal filings.
These statements were filed as part Giuffre’s
ongoing legal proceedings against the Duke of York in Manhattan federal court.
Giuffre has long alleged that Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell forced her into a
sexual encounter with the senior British royal 20 years ago, when she was 17.
Giuffre has alleged that Andrew engaged in
sexual misconduct with her on other occasions. Her 9 August lawsuit cited
alleged battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Andrew’s denials were part of his “answer and
affirmative defenses” to Giuffre’s civil complaint against him. In the 11-page
document, Andrew denied wrongdoing, but he did say in this document that he met
Epstein “in or around 1999”.
Andrew’s lawyers said that he “lacks
sufficient information to admit or deny” Giuffre’s prior allegations that
Epstein was a “widely renowned as a billionaire who used his vast connections
to powerful individuals, and seemingly unlimited wealth and resources, to
create a web of transcontinental sex trafficking that served himself, his
coconspirators, and some of the most powerful people in the world”.
His counsel also said that Andrew lacked
“sufficient information to admit or deny” Giuffre’s contention that Maxwell was
“the highest-ranking recruiter in Epstein’s sex-trafficking enterprise”.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender, was
apprehended in July 2019 for sex trafficking girls as young as 14. He killed
himself about one month later in a Manhattan jail, while awaiting his
sex-trafficking trial.
Maxwell, daughter of the British press baron
Robert Maxwell, was found guilty of sex trafficking and related charges in
December for luring girls as young as 14 into Epstein’s abusive orbit.
Prince Andrew has denied all allegations of
misconduct.
In the prince’s response paperwork, his
lawyers also listed some reasons why they believe Giuffre’s case should not
stand.
They reiterated their unsuccessful claim that
Giuffre’s 2009 settlement with Epstein – which included a release for third
parties – shielded Andrew from litigation. They also repeated their position
that Giuffre brought her complaint too long after the alleged misconduct,
barring her from suing.
Andrew’s lawyers also listed “consent” and the
“doctrine of unclean hands” – which is an allegation that Giuffre has acted
unethically related to the accusations – among his defenses. “Giuffre’s alleged
causes of action are barred in whole or in part by her own wrongful conduct,”
they wrote.
The new filing came amid seemingly mounting
legal woes for the embattled prince.
Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled on 12 January that
Giuffre’s suit could go forward. Shortly thereafter, a woman who may have seen
Andrew with Giuffre at a London disco the night he allegedly abused the
then-teen said she was “willing” to provide testimony.
“I am proud to represent Shukri Walker, who
has bravely stepped forward as a witness and encourages others who may have
information to do so as well,” the woman’s lawyer, Lisa Bloom, said in an
email. “She is willing to do the deposition Virginia Giuffre’s team is
seeking.”
Giuffre’s lawsuit, coupled with heightened
scrutiny on his ties to Epstein and Maxwell, has proved disastrous for Andrew.
Buckingham Palace said in a 13 January
statement: “With the Queen’s approval and agreement, the Duke of York’s
military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen. The
Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending
this case as a private citizen.”
Asked for comment on Andrew’s filing,
Giuffre’s lawyers said in a statement: “Prince Andrew’s Answer continues his
approach of denying any knowledge or information concerning the claims against
him, and purporting to blame the victim of the abuse for somehow bringing it on
herself.
“We look forward to confronting Prince Andrew
with his denials and attempts to blame Ms Giuffre for her own abuse at his
deposition and at trial,” their statement also said.
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