(New York) American justice released Monday a financial agreement sealed in 2009 between multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein, accused of sex crimes and death in prison in 2019, and one of his victims, a settlement that could protect his friend the British Prince Andrew.
This agreement between Epstein and the American Virginia Giuffre, published by the federal court in Manhattan, concerns Prince Andrew, friend of the couple Jeffrey Epstein-Ghislaine Maxwell, because he is the subject of a civil complaint filed in New York in August by Mr.me Giuffre for “sexual assault” committed in 2001, when she was 17 years old.
Lawyers for Andrew, 61, have been doing everything for six months to block the complaint and say the 2009 agreement prevents a lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre against the second son of Queen Elizabeth.
In fact, the settlement, which earned Virginia Giuffre – born Roberts and now 38 – $ 500,000, protected Jeffrey Epstein from legal action for sex crimes. But the agreement could also concern any “other potential accused”, according to the legal formulation of the contractual document of 2009.
NEW YORK STATE SEXUAL OFFENDER PHOTO, VIA ARCHIVES AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke of York’s name or royal title is not mentioned, but Andrew’s lawyers say Mr.me Giuffre is unfounded in law.
This complaint, which seeks damages of an unknown amount, however, has nothing to do with a criminal charge and Prince Andrew, who has always “categorically” denied these allegations, is not being prosecuted for sex crimes.
The fate of this civil action by Mme Giuffre could wrap up on Tuesday.
At 10 a.m., a videoconference hearing is scheduled to be held between Manhattan Federal Judge Lewis Kaplan and lawyers for both sides to determine whether the lawsuit should be dismissed.
The judge has already rejected on December 31 another motion for nullity made by Andrew, who argued that Mr.me Giuffre could not sue in the United States because she “resides” in Australia.
PHOTO BEBETO MATTHEWS, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
The settlement, which earned Virginia Giuffre – born Roberts and now 38 – $ 500,000, protected Jeffrey Epstein from legal action for sex crimes. But the agreement could also concern any “other potential accused”, according to the legal formulation of the contractual document of 2009. It is seen above during a press conference in New York, on August 9, 2021.
If all of Andrew’s remedies fail, a civil trial could be held “between September and December” 2022, Judge Kaplan suggested in the fall.
For her part, the former British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, companion and accomplice of Epstein for nearly 30 years, was convicted on December 29 in New York of sex trafficking of minors for the benefit of the financier.
Virginia Giuffre, who was not a party to the Maxwell trial, welcomed the judgment and said she hoped others “will be held to account”.