Shivangi Prakash-
Published on: 10 August, 2021, at 11:00 IST
Prince Andrew of the United Kingdom was sued in a New York Court for alleged sexual abuse of a lady who claims she was “let out” for underage sexual activities by late US financier, Jeffrey Epstein.
In a lawsuit filed in District Court in the United States, Virginia Giuffre claimed that Queen Elizabeth’s second son, sexually abused and battered her when she was 17 years old and Epstein was also abusing her.
“I am holding Prince Andrew accountable for what he did to me,” Giuffre, previously known as Virginia Roberts, 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”, Giuffre added.
The Duke of York, Andrew has categorically denied having sexual activities with Giuffre and has stated that he has no memory of meeting her. However, the charges have the potential to harm the British Royal Family.
Buckingham Palace denied her allegations in a statement saying, “It is emphatically denied that The Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts. Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation.”
Giuffre claims that when she was a minor, Prince Andrew sexually molested her at the invitation of both Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and that incidents of alleged sexual abuse occurred at Maxwell’s home in London, Epstein’s home in Manhattan, and Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands.
“Prince Andrew committed sexual assault and battery upon the plaintiff when she was 17 years old. As such, Prince Andrew is responsible for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress according to New York common law. The damage to the plaintiff has been severe and lasting”, the lawsuit states.
The complaint, which was signed by Giuffre’s attorney, David Boies, accused the Prince of violence and deliberate infliction of emotional distress. Unspecified compensation and punitive damages are sought.
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