Prince Andrew settles civil sexual assault claim with Virginia Giuffre

Victoria Ward and Josie Ensor - 15 February 2022

The Duke of York has reached an out-of-court financial settlement with his accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre.

The deal brings an end to the legal process and means he will not face a jury trial in the civil case on sexual abuse claims.

The terms of the deal will remain secret, but in a joint statement the Duke expressed regret about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and confirmed that he will make a "substantial donation" to Ms Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights.

Ms Giuffre alleged that she was sexually abused or raped by Prince Andrew on three separate occasions in 2001 when she was 17. She had sued him for unspecified damages.

In a joint statement, the two sides said: "Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew have reached an out-of-court settlement."

It said they would file a request to dismiss the case when the undisclosed sum had been received.

"Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms Giuffre’s character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks," it said.

"It is known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years. Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others.

"He pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims."

In a joint court filing, the parties told the New York judge overseeing the case that they anticipated that it would be brought to a close within 30 days and asked that all action be suspended in the meantime.

The Duke had been due to give a deposition under oath on March 10.

Sigrid McCawley, representing Ms Giuffre, told The Telegraph: "As a managing partner at a firm that has from its beginning acted upon the belief that the law should be marshalled to bring justice to the most vulnerable, I can say, without hesitation, that our representation of survivors upholds that tradition.

"I am very pleased with the resolution of Virginia Giuffre’s litigation against Prince Andrew."

Lisa Bloom, an attorney representing eight victims of Jeffrey Epstein, said: "We hail Virginia’s victory today. She has accomplished what no one else could: getting Prince Andrew to stop his nonsense and side with sexual abuse victims.

"We salute Virginia’s stunning courage."

Penny Junor, the Royal author, said the settlement is likely to come as a "huge relief" to the rest of the Royal family.

"Going to trial, it could have been very, very nasty," she said. "It could have been embarrassing, humiliating, and it would have been huge fodder for the tabloid press.

"It could have really taken the shine off the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year."

Another royal expert said the Duke would "forever be tainted" by the civil sex assault claim brought against him.

Joe Little, of Majesty magazine, told the PA news agency: "I just don't think he's ever likely to resume work as a working member of the royal family.

"I think that too much water has gone under the bridge for that and the institution of monarchy has been tainted by his association with Epstein and I just think that there's no going back on all that."

On the likely reaction of the rest of the royal family, he said: "I'm sure that they're glad this (settlement agreement) has happened but does it exonerate the prince who really has not been charged with anything criminal?

"He will, I think, forever be tainted by this scandal, for want of a better way of describing it."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/02/15/prince-andrew-settles-legal-case-virginia-roberts-giuffre/

https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/60119368/giuffre-v-prince-andrew/?order_by=desc

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.564713/gov.uscourts.nysd.564713.78.0_1.pdf

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.564713/gov.uscourts.nysd.564713.78.1_3.pdf

>>15640185

Did this email from Ghislaine Maxwell sink Prince Andrew's case and cost the royal $16M? 2015 email exchange between Epstein's madam and lawyer Alan Dershowitz confirms infamous image of the royal with Virginia Roberts is real

DANIEL BATES - 16 February 2022

Before he settled out of court last night, Prince Andrew was set to be dealt a major blow in his US sex case thanks to Ghislaine Maxwell.

A leaked email from the prince's friend and now convicted sex trafficker appeared to confirm the authenticity of an infamous picture of the duke standing with his arm around his accuser, Virginia Roberts.

The photograph, said to be taken in Maxwell's London townhouse in 2001, had been questioned by Andrew and just this week his legal team had demanded Miss Roberts turn over the original.

The duke's legal team had claimed it might be a fake, but an email obtained by the Daily Mail shows that even Maxwell, who appears in the background of the photo, believes it to be real.

In the message, sent in 2015, Maxwell says: 'It looks real. I think it is.'

On a dramatic day of developments yesterday, it was claimed that Miss Roberts had lost the original copy of the image.

But that was disputed by her legal team, who said the hard copy was with the FBI and that Miss Roberts misplaced a CD containing a copy of the image.

The photo was set to be a key piece of evidence in her claims for battery and infliction of emotional distress against Andrew, 61, which he had denied.

The duke's lawyers had lined up an image expert to cast doubt on the veracity of the photo.

If Miss Roberts had not produced the original, Andrew's team could have argued copies could not be admitted as evidence as they could not be properly tested.

Not being able to rely on the photograph as proof they met would have put a sizeable dint in his accuser's case.

But in an email exchange seen by the Mail, the picture was discussed by Maxwell and Epstein's former lawyer, Alan Dershowitz.

On January 10, 2015, Mr Dershowitz wrote: 'Dear G. Do you know whether the photo of Andrew and virginia is real? You are in the background.'

Eleven minutes later, Maxwell replied: 'It looks real. I think it is.'

The timing of the exchange is significant because days earlier Miss Roberts claimed for the first time in court papers that she had been forced to have sex with both Andrew and Mr Dershowitz.

The allegation was struck out by a judge who branded it 'impertinent'. But it caused panic for Andrew and in emails previously reported by the BBC, he contacted Maxwell at 5.50am on January 3, 2015.

The duke wrote: 'Let me know when we can talk. Got some specific questions to ask you about Virginia Roberts.'

Maxwell replied: 'Have some info. Call me when you have a moment.'

Mr Dershowitz has vehemently denied having sex with Miss Roberts.

Last year she dropped a battery allegation she filed against him after he claimed a civil settlement she signed with Epstein in 2009 gave him immunity.

Miss Roberts is currently suing Mr Dershowitz for defamation, a case he is fighting.

His lawyers did not respond to requests asking for comment.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10516655/Duke-set-sex-trial-bombshell-leaked-message-Ghislaine-Maxwell-appeared.html

>Sometimes it's the people in the background that are of greater significance.

>>15640185

>>15640249

Q Post #4565

Jul 2 2020 12:53:00 (EST)

Possible Epstein was a puppet [not the main person(s) of interest]?

Financed by who or what [F] entities?

1. [Primary] gather blackmail on elected pols, dignitaries, royalty, hollywood influencers, wall street and other financial top level players, other high profile industry specific people, etc.

2. Feed an addiction [controllable]

Maxwell family background?

Robert Maxwell history [intel, agency, wealth, [CLAS 1-99]]?

Sometimes it's the people in the background that are of greater significance.

Q

https://qanon.pub/#4565