Virginia Giuffre, a longtime survivor and accuser of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking, is now suing Prince Andrew for multiple instances of alleged sexual assault when she was 17.
Under the Child Victims Act, Giuffre is suing Andrew for ‘sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress’, claiming that when she was a child, she was trafficked to Andrew and then sexually abused multiple times.
“I am holding Prince Andrew accountable for what he did to me,” she said in a statement.
“The powerful and rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions. I hope that other victims will see that it is possible not to live in silence and fear, but to reclaim one’s life by speaking out and demanding justice.
“I did not come to this decision lightly. As a mother and a wife, my family comes first — and I know that this action will subject me to further attacks by Prince Andrew and his surrogates — but I knew if I did not pursue this action, I would be letting them and victims everywhere down.”
In 2019, Prince Andrew denied all claims from Giuffre that he sexually assaulted her, telling the BBC that he has absolutely “no recollection” of ever even meeting Giuffre.
“I can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened,” he said in an interview.
Despite this, a picture of Andrew with his hands around Giuffre’s waist exists, which he once claimed might have been doctored.
In her lawsuit, Giuffre claims that there were multiple instances of abuse, including one time in the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein, and another in Epstein’s New York Mansion.
“During each of the aforementioned incidents, Plaintiff was compelled by express or implied threats by Epstein, Maxwell, and/or Prince Andrew to engage in sexual acts with Prince Andrew, and feared death or physical injury to herself or another and other repercussions for disobeying Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew due to their powerful connections, wealth, and authority,” reads the lawsuit.
More to come.
Help is available.
If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
If you’d like to speak to someone about sexual violence, please call the 180
0 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 or chat online.
Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
