Cressida Dick warns ‘nobody is above the legislation’ when requested about Prince Andrew ‘rape’ accusations

The top of Scotland Yard at the moment declared ‘nobody is above the legislation’ when requested about rape claims made in opposition to Prince Andrew by a intercourse slave sufferer of his paedophile pal Jeffrey Epstein. 

Dame Cressida Dick stated a 3rd overview into the case is beneath method – however insisted no Metropolitan Police investigation into the Duke of York is going down.

The Met has beforehand twice dominated out a full investigation into claims younger ladies and women had been alleged to have been focused, trafficked, groomed, or abused within the UK by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. 

A type of victims, Virginia Roberts, claims she was pressured to have intercourse with the royal at Epstein’s behest 3 times, together with as soon as at Maxwell’s London mews home. Ms Roberts, now often known as Virginia Giuffre, is suing Andrew in a New York courtroom for alleged ‘rape within the first diploma’, sexual battery and sexual abuse, claiming she thought she’d be murdered by Epstein if she did not sleep with Andrew.

When requested about this, Dame Cressida informed LBC: ‘No one is above the legislation. On account of what is going on on I’ve requested my group to have one other take a look at the fabric.’   

Prince Andrew is out within the chilly at the moment because it was reported that his older brother Prince Charles believes his brother won’t ever return to public life. The Each day Mail understands that each Charles and Prince William have doubts about the best way such severe allegations have been handled by Andrew and his authorized group.

Greater than 48 hours after Virginia’s lawyer within the US started civil proceedings accusing the 61-year-old royal of abuse, there was no response from Andrew’s camp. He’s at Balmoral along with his mom the Queen and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. 

Andrew could be consigned to the wilderness – regardless of the end result of the lawsuit he now faces – due to the reputational injury finished by his hyperlinks to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The long run king is among the many senior royals who’ve privately expressed concern over the dealing with of the Duke of York’s newest authorized disaster because it emerged it may overshadow the Queen’s historic Platinum Jubilee.  

A supply informed The Times: ‘The prince loves his brother and has the flexibility to have sympathy for the slings and arrows that his brother endures, regardless of the causes could also be.’

The supply added: ‘Nevertheless, this might be unwelcome reputational injury to the establishment. He has way back concluded that it’s most likely an unsolvable downside.’     

The Each day Mail understands that each Charles and Prince William have doubts about the best way such severe allegations have been handled by Andrew and his authorized group. 

He has beforehand denied any wrongdoing and strongly maintained his innocence, claiming to haven’t any recollection of getting ever met Miss Roberts.

Prince Charles, 72, and William, 39, had been instrumental in forcing Andrew to step again from royal duties in 2019 within the wake of the disastrous BBC interview he gave in an try and clear his identify. 

A royal insider informed the Mail yesterday: ‘The household discover themselves in a very troublesome and delicate state of affairs given the character of the allegations.

‘They’re restricted in what they will say publicly and now that the Duke of York is not a working royal they’re truly slightly restricted in what management they will exert over the state of affairs privately.’

Final night time, sources near the prince’s household expressed rising frustration along with his authorized group for the coverage of continued silence.

The duke is alleged to have personally instructed prison defence solicitor Gary Bloxsome, of Metropolis agency Blackfords, to assist mastermind his response to Miss Roberts’ allegations. 

Mr Bloxsome, a 40-year veteran of the corporate, has defended British troops in opposition to battle crimes allegations, in addition to footballers in assault instances.

Nevertheless, a supply near Andrew’s household informed the Mail yesterday: ‘We’re starting to query the ways of Blackfords. 

To not put out a press release reiterating or increasing on his denial may go in a restricted, authorized sense, however within the courtroom of public opinion his status is being shredded.’

Miss Roberts’ lawyer, David Boies, revealed that he anticipates the case may very well be heard in New York as early because the ‘center of subsequent 12 months’. 

The Queen, 95, is because of have fun her historic Platinum Jubilee with a collection of main public celebrations in June.

Requested if he felt the lawsuit could be sufficient to get the ninth in line to the throne to reply questions concerning the allegations, Mr Boies informed Sky Information: ‘Prince Andrew goes to should now. He cannot ignore the method.’

Mr Boies has beforehand accused Andrew and his authorized group of ‘stonewalling’ each Miss Roberts and the FBI, which is investigating the crimes of Andrew’s pal Epstein. The prince has stated he has supplied to co-operate with FBI.

Mr Boies additionally confirmed new proof and new witness statements will kind a part of their case on the subject of courtroom for trial, which he believes will throw additional doubt on the Duke of York’s account.

It’s believed he was referring to Johanna Sjoberg, the one different lady to have publicly accused Andrew of sexual misconduct.  

Andrew is presently holidaying with the Queen at Balmoral, her Scottish property. Sources have denied claims he was summoned by his mom for disaster talks.

The beleaguered royal had at all times deliberate to reach in time for at the moment’s ‘Superb Twelfth’ – the beginning of the grouse capturing season – alongside along with his former spouse, Sarah, Duchess of York.

He was joined yesterday by his youngest daughter, Princess Eugenie, 31, her husband, Jack Brooksbank, and their six-month-old son, August.  

The Princess jetted into Aberdeen Airport together with her household on a industrial BA flight from London Heathrow which arrived at round 3.20pm.

Eugenie was first off the airplane, adopted intently by Jack and their nanny carrying child son August down the steps to an awaiting Vary Rover.

It’s the additionally the primary time the couple have been pictured collectively since Jack was noticed sipping rosé on a classic speedboat off the Italian coast whereas surrounded by bikini-clad fashions. A supply near Jack stated he was on a enterprise journey to Capri for his tequila model Casamigos.

The couple appeared to make a fast cease to talk with floor workers whereas their baggage was offloaded earlier than driving off the tarmac in direction of Balmoral Citadel.

Her father Prince Andrew arrived yesterday, travelling by automobile with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, for his or her annual August jaunt whereas his legal professionals held disaster talks over the case launched by Ms Roberts.

The 61-year-old was already on his approach to Scotland when the authorized summons landed at his Royal Lodge dwelling in Windsor. Nevertheless, with the authorized motion hanging over him the prince may very well be in for some awkward discussions along with his mom.

Yesterday Ms Roberts’s authorized group claimed Prince Andrew had ‘stonewalled’ in opposition to efforts at cooperation ‘for the final 5 years’ – because it was revealed that the Duke of York may face a second lawsuit from one other of Jeffrey Epstein’s sufferer.

Mrs Boies, who’s representing Ms Roberts in her US civil case in opposition to Andrew, stated the Duke’s authorized group had been ‘completely uncooperative’ in makes an attempt to debate the abuse claims made by his shopper.    

‘We have reached out to Prince Andrew’s authorized group, a lot of instances during the last 5 years, we have made an try to interact with him to provide him a possibility to inform his aspect of the story, to offer any rationalization or context, that he may need for his actions to attempt to resolve this with out the need of litigation. Each such effort has been rebuffed,’ he informed Sky Information at the moment. 

He added: ‘They’ve completely stonewalled us identical to they’ve stonewalled the prison prosecutors in the US.’

It comes because it was at the moment revealed that the Prince may face one other US lawsuit from certainly one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims who accused the royal of groping her breasts in a sickening assault involving a Spitting Picture puppet of himself gifted to him by Ghislaine Maxwell.

Ms Sjoberg has accused the Duke of York of sexually assaulting her when she was 21 years previous and dealing as paedophile Epstein’s PA.

The incident is alleged to have taken place in entrance of Ms Roberts, now often known as Virginia Giuffre, who has launched a bombshell authorized motion accusing Andrew of rape.  

The lawsuit – filed on Roberts’ thirty eighth birthday – claims that she was ‘loaned’ to the British royal and compelled to have intercourse with Andrew 3 times on the orders of Epstein, fearing she could be killed if she disobeyed.

Ms Sjoberg, now 43, had beforehand been unable to sue due to the period of time because the alleged assault. However a pending US legislation change may now enable her to convey her ­allegations to courtroom.  

In her civil lawsuit filed in New York on Monday, Miss Roberts – who has accused Andrew of getting intercourse together with her on three events when she was aged 17, figuring out that she had been trafficked by Epstein – claims his actions amounted to ‘rape within the first diploma’. 

He has 21 days to reply and if he fails to take action, she may ask the courtroom to search out in her favour and not using a trial.

It could elevate the prospect of Andrew going through calls for for damages. But when he does resolve to come back out combating he may face having to provide an account of his dealings with Epstein, in addition to his earlier sexual historical past.

Legal professionals may additionally demand entry to any communications with Epstein, in addition to their mutual pal Ghislaine Maxwell.

She is because of go on trial later this 12 months for allegedly appearing as his ‘madam’ and serving to to traffick weak younger victims.

However the prince can – and that is the most certainly choice for his group – additionally ask the courtroom to dismiss the case as groundless or attempt to problem it on different authorized grounds. 

‘Prince Andrew dedicated sexual assault and battery upon Plaintiff when she was 17 years previous’: The bombshell Giuffre v Duke of York courtroom paperwork in full

Virginia Roberts on Monday filed a civil go well with in opposition to Prince Andrew, formally accusing him of sexually abusing her whereas she was being trafficked by billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Over 15 pages of courtroom paperwork filed at New York’s southern district courtroom, the 38-year-old makes claims that the Duke of York ‘dedicated sexual assault and battery’ in opposition to her whereas she was aged simply 17.

The Duke of York has at all times vehemently denied all expenses made by Roberts. 

Roberts has requested ‘punitive damages’ be awarded by a choose and demanded a ‘trial by jury’ for the ‘bodily, psychological’ accidents she says she suffered.  

        

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

VIRGINIA L. GIUFFRE, Plaintiff

vs.

PRINCE ANDREW, DUKE OF YORK, a/okay/a ANDREW ALBERT CHRISTIAN EDWARD, in his private capability, Defendant.

 

COMPLAINT 

Plaintiff Virginia L. Giuffre, by her attorneys Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, for her Grievance in opposition to Defendant Prince Andrew, Duke of York, a/okay/a Andrew Albert Christian Edward (‘Prince Andrew’), avers upon private data as to her personal acts and standing and upon info and perception and to all different issues as follows: 

 

NATURE OF THE ACTION

1. This go well with arises out of Defendant’s sexual abuse of Plaintiff when she was beneath the age of 18 years previous.

2. Throughout 2000–2002, starting when Plaintiff was 16, Plaintiff was the sufferer of intercourse trafficking and abuse by convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein.

3. Epstein’s trafficking scheme concerned recruiting younger women, usually by claiming they might be paid $200 for merely offering a therapeutic massage to a rich billionaire. This similar sample was repeated quite a few instances with numerous kids and younger ladies.

4. As United States District Decide Kenneth Marra discovered, ‘From between about 1999 and 2007, Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused greater than 30 minor women… at his mansion in Palm Seaside, Florida, and elsewhere in the US and abroad…

    ‘Along with his personal sexual abuse of the victims, Epstein directed different individuals to abuse the ladies sexually. Epstein used paid staff to search out and convey minor women to him.

    ‘Epstein labored in live performance with others to acquire minors not just for his personal sexual gratification, but in addition for the sexual gratification of others.’

Opinion and Order, Doc. No. 435 at 1–2, Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 v. United States, Case No. 9:08-cv-80736 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 21, 2019).

5. Like different minor kids who got here earlier than and after her, Plaintiff was initially recruited to offer massages, and thereafter to interact in a wide range of sexual acts, for Epstein.

    Plaintiff was required to be on name for Epstein for sexual functions and often traveled with him each nationally and internationally. Plaintiff was usually abused by Epstein and was lent out by Epstein to different highly effective males for sexual functions.

6. One such highly effective man to whom Plaintiff was lent out for sexual functions was the Defendant, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York.

7. Prince Andrew was a detailed pal of Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite who spent years overseeing and managing Epstein’s intercourse trafficking community, and actively recruited underage women, together with Plaintiff.

8. In accordance with Prince Andrew, he met Epstein by Maxwell in 1999. Prince Andrew thereafter grew to become a frequent visitor in Epstein’s numerous houses world wide, together with New York Metropolis the place he sexually abused Plaintiff at Epstein and Maxwell’s invitation when she was a minor.

9. After publicly feigning ignorance concerning the scope of Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation and sympathy for Epstein’s victims, Prince Andrew has refused to cooperate with U.S. authorities of their investigation and prosecution of Epstein and his co-conspirators.

10. Prince Andrew dedicated sexual assault and battery upon Plaintiff when she was 17 years previous. As such, Prince Andrew is accountable for battery and intentional infliction of emotional misery pursuant to New York widespread legislation. The injury to Plaintiff has been extreme and lasting.

11. This motion has been well timed filed pursuant to the Little one Victims Act, N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214-g. The actions described herein represent sexual offenses by Defendant beneath New York Penal Legislation Article 130, and had been dedicated in opposition to Plaintiff when she was a toddler lower than eighteen years of age, for which she suffered bodily, psychological, and different accidents because of this.

 

PARTIES

12. Plaintiff Virginia L. Giuffre is a person who’s a citizen of the State of Colorado.

13. Defendant Prince Andrew is a citizen of the UK, and is presently residing on the Royal Lodge at Windsor Nice Park, Berkshire, United Kingdom, the place he’s domiciled.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

14. This Courtroom has variety jurisdiction over this dispute pursuant to twenty-eight U.S.C. § 1332(a)(2). Plaintiff is a citizen of a State and Defendant is a citizen of a international state, and the quantity in controversy exceeds the sum or worth of $75,000.00 excluding pursuits and prices.

15. Venue is correct on this Courtroom as a considerable a part of the occasions or omissions giving rise to Plaintiff’s claims occurred inside this District. 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(2).

16. This Courtroom has private jurisdiction over Defendant as Defendant sexually abused Plaintiff on this state, and has thus dedicated a tortious motion inside this State pursuant to New York’s long-arm statute, N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 302(a)(2).

     Defendant additionally visited Jeffrey Epstein on this State on quite a few events. Defendant may moderately anticipate {that a} go well with primarily based upon his acts and omissions with respect to Plaintiff may lead to him being topic to go well with on this State, and this go well with arises straight out of the Defendant’s acts or omissions with respect to Plaintiff on this state.

FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

A. Epstein’s Intercourse Trafficking Enterprise

17. Jeffrey Epstein was extensively famend as a billionaire who used his huge connections to highly effective people, and seemingly limitless wealth and assets, to create an online of transcontinental intercourse trafficking that served himself, his coconspirators, and a number of the strongest individuals on the earth.

18. Ghislaine Maxwell is a British socialite and the daughter of disgraced publishing tycoon Robert Maxwell. Maxwell was the highest-ranking recruiter in Epstein’s sex-trafficking enterprise. Maxwell is presently going through prison expenses within the Southern District of New York stemming from her function in Epstein’s sex-trafficking enterprise, and is about to face trial within the fall.

19. Epstein had perfected a scheme for manipulation and abuse of younger females. As a part of the scheme, Maxwell or one other feminine recruiter would strategy a younger woman and strike up a dialog in an effort to rapidly be taught concerning the woman’s background and any vulnerabilities they may expose. Epstein’s recruiters discovered their targets in every single place and wherever, together with colleges, spas, trailer parks, and the road.

20. The recruiter would then manipulate the younger feminine into coming again to certainly one of Epstein’s residences by providing the younger woman one thing she wanted, relying on her state of affairs. In lots of instances, the recruiter sought out women who needed to be skilled masseuses and invited them to certainly one of Epstein’s houses by providing them what seemed to be reliable masseuse positions.

21. As soon as within the residence, Epstein and his co-conspirators would work in live performance to impress and intimidate the younger feminine with shows of huge wealth and energy. They might brag about their connections to very highly effective political and social figures, and show images of themselves with these figures round Epstein’s houses. They might normalize the sexual abuse by displaying images and artwork displaying nude females, and a therapeutic massage desk and spa associated merchandise in an effort to legitimize the world the place the abuse was set to happen.

22. As soon as abused, Epstein and Maxwell continued to control their victims, utilizing their monetary energy, guarantees, and threats to make sure that the sufferer returned as directed and remained compliant with their calls for. Epstein and his legal professionals would even collect details about the victims to make use of in opposition to them in the event that they ever disobeyed him, and his houses had been beneath fixed surveillance.

23. Message pads recovered throughout trash pulls at Epstein’s Palm Seaside mansion mirror messages that his workers took to relay to Epstein. They present the fixed move of women to Epstein, typically three per day. Epstein’s staff have additionally described younger women continuously being current at Epstein’s completely different houses.

      Epstein’s fixed entry to younger women can be evidenced in his ‘Black Ebook,’ a guide of cellphone numbers and speak to info itemizing women to name for ‘massages’ in numerous cities, flight logs documenting his frequent journey with younger women and highly effective people on his non-public airplane, and troves of lewd images of younger women recovered from his houses. In his Black Ebook, Epstein had not less than 12 completely different contact numbers listed for Prince Andrew.

24. Plaintiff grew to become a sufferer of intercourse trafficking and repeated sexual abuse after Maxwell recruited her into Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation when Plaintiff was working on the Mar-A-Lago Membership in Palm Seaside, Florida.

25. Between 2000 and 2002, Epstein sexually abused Plaintiff at quite a few places together with his mansion on this District, at 9 East 71st Road, New York, New York 10021.

26. Epstein additionally flew Plaintiff on his airplane nationally and internationally quite a few instances when she was beneath the age of 18.

      Solely parts of the flight logs of Epstein’s non-public planes have but been recovered, and Epstein additionally flew Plaintiff often on industrial airways to satisfy him and others.

      Nevertheless, the chart beneath, which exhibits Plaintiff’s flights on Epstein’s non-public airplane from the restricted logs which might be obtainable, illustrates the worldwide scope of Epstein’s intercourse trafficking.

27. Along with being abused by Epstein himself, Plaintiff was additionally pressured to have intercourse with Defendant, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, at Epstein and Maxwell’s course.

28. As a part of their intercourse trafficking efforts, Epstein and Maxwell intimidated Plaintiff into remaining silent about what had occurred to her.

29. After years of abuse, Epstein despatched Plaintiff to Thailand in September 2002. One among Plaintiff’s assignments from Epstein was to convey a younger woman again to Epstein in the US. Fearing for her life, and never desirous to topic one other younger woman to the abuse she was pressured to endure, Plaintiff fled from Thailand to Australia to flee from Epstein. 

 

B. Defendant’s Relationship with Epstein and Maxwell

30. In accordance with Prince Andrew, he first met Epstein in 1999 by Maxwell, Prince Andrew’s shut pal. Prince Andrew and Maxwell have been photographed at quite a few social occasions collectively.

31. In accordance with obtainable flight logs, Prince Andrew started flying with Epstein on his non-public airplane as early as 1999, when he flew with Epstein and Maxwell to Epstein’s non-public island, Little St. James. Prince Andrew’s identify additionally seems in different obtainable flight log entries from across the similar time, displaying journey with Epstein and Maxwell to and from different places, together with West Palm Seaside, Florida, and Teterboro, New Jersey.

32. In 2000, Epstein and Maxwell attended Prince Andrew’s fortieth celebration. That very same 12 months, Prince Andrew threw Maxwell a celebration in Sandringham, United Kingdom, and Epstein was among the many visitors.

33. In 2006, Prince Andrew invited Epstein to his daughter’s 18th celebration, regardless of Epstein being charged with procuring a minor for prostitution just one month prior.

34. Prince Andrew has himself confirmed that he has been on Epstein’s non-public airplane, stayed at Epstein’s non-public island, and stayed at Epstein’s houses in Palm Seaside, Florida, and New York, New York. See Prince Andrew’s hyperlinks to Jeffrey Epstein, BBC Information (Nov. 16, 2019), obtainable at https://www.bbc.com/information/uk-49411215.

35. Members of Epstein’s home workers have confirmed witnessing Prince Andrew go to Epstein’s quite a few houses, each to the media and in sworn testimony.

 

C. Defendant’s Sexual Abuse of Plaintiff

36. Prince Andrew abused Plaintiff on separate events when she was beneath the age of 18 years previous.

37. On one event, Prince Andrew sexually abused Plaintiff in London at Maxwell’s dwelling. Throughout this encounter, Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew pressured Plaintiff, a toddler, to have sexual activity with Prince Andrew in opposition to her will.

38. The beneath {photograph} depicts Prince Andrew, Plaintiff, and Maxwell at Maxwell’s dwelling previous to Prince Andrew sexually abusing Plaintiff.

39. On one other event, Prince Andrew sexually abused Plaintiff in Epstein’s New York mansion on this District. Throughout this encounter, Maxwell pressured Plaintiff, a toddler, and one other sufferer to take a seat on Prince Andrew’s lap as Prince Andrew touched her. Throughout his go to to New York, Prince Andrew pressured Plaintiff to interact in intercourse acts in opposition to her will.

40. On one other event, Prince Andrew sexually abused Plaintiff on Epstein’s non-public island within the U.S. Virgin Islands, Little St. James.

41. Throughout every of the aforementioned incidents, Plaintiff was compelled by categorical or implied threats by Epstein, Maxwell, and/or Prince Andrew to interact in sexual acts with Prince Andrew, and feared demise or bodily damage to herself or one other and different repercussions for disobeying Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew on account of their highly effective connections, wealth, and authority.

42. Throughout every of the aforementioned incidents, Prince Andrew acted with intent to compel Plaintiff’s submission.

43. Prince Andrew engaged in every of the aforementioned sexual acts with Plaintiff at Epstein and Maxwell’s invitation, figuring out that she was a sex-trafficking sufferer being pressured to interact in sexual acts with him.

44. Throughout every of the aforementioned incidents, Plaintiff didn’t consent to partaking in sexual acts with Prince Andrew.

45. Throughout every of the aforementioned incidents, Prince Andrew knew Plaintiff’s age primarily based on communications from Epstein and Maxwell.

46. Throughout every of the aforementioned incidents, Prince Andrew sexually abused Plaintiff for the aim of gratifying his sexual needs.

47. Throughout every of the aforementioned incidents, Prince Andrew was appearing in his particular person, private capability, and was not performing any obligation referring to his former function as a commerce envoy, any obligation referring to his function as a member of the Royal Household of the UK, or every other official or diplomatic obligation or perform.

48. Defendant’s sexual assault and battery of Plaintiff have brought about her, and proceed to trigger her, important emotional and psychological misery and hurt. 

 

D. The Arrest, Prosecution, and Loss of life of Epstein, and Prince Andrew’s Refusal to Cooperate with the Authorities

49. In 2008, Epstein pled responsible in Florida to the cost of procuring a minor for prostitution.

50. In 2010, after Epstein had served his sentence and registered as a intercourse offender, Prince Andrew was photographed with Epstein in Central Park and stayed at Epstein’s New York Metropolis mansion.

51. Epstein flippantly referred to his sexual abuse of a number of minors, and the slap on the wrist he had obtained for it, in a 2011 interview with the New York Submit: ‘Billionaire pervert Jeffrey Epstein is again in New York Metropolis—and making wisecracks about his just-ended jail stint for having intercourse with an underage woman. ‘I’m not a sexual predator, I am an ‘offender,’ the financier informed The Submit yesterday. ‘It is the distinction between a assassin and an individual who steals a bagel,’ stated Epstein.’ See Amber Sutherland, Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein: I am a Intercourse Offender, Not A Predator, New York Submit (Feb. 25, 2011), obtainable at https://bit.ly/2s3ebwk.

52. Across the similar time, Prince Andrew started to face criticism over his well- publicized friendship with Epstein.

53. In early 2015, after Plaintiff had publicly accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her, Prince Andrew emailed Maxwell stating, ‘Let me know once we can discuss. Received some particular inquiries to ask you about Virginia Roberts.’

54. On July 2, 2019, the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Southern District of New York (‘SDNY’) charged Epstein with intercourse trafficking conspiracy and intercourse trafficking in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1591.

55. Epstein was arrested on July 8, 2019, pursuant to a Sealed Two Depend Indictment.

56. Epstein was discovered useless in his cell on the Metropolitan Correctional Middle on August 10, 2019.

57. Only one 12 months earlier than his demise, Epstein informed a New York Occasions reporter ‘that criminalizing intercourse with teenage women was a cultural aberration and that at instances in historical past it was completely acceptable.’ James B. Stewart, The Day Jeffrey Epstein Advised Me He Had Dust on Highly effective Folks, N.Y. Occasions (Aug. 12, 2019), obtainable at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/enterprise/jeffrey-epstein-interview.html. 

58. After Epstein’s second arrest and demise, quite a few of his co-conspirators and the rich people to whom he trafficked women—together with Prince Andrew—started to face elevated public scrutiny for having shut ties to a convicted intercourse offender.

59. In November 2019, in response to this renewed scrutiny, Prince Andrew sat for an interview with BBC Newsnight. Prince Andrew acknowledged that he didn’t remorse his friendship with Epstein and that he had no recollection of assembly Plaintiff, regardless of photographic proof on the contrary.

60. Prince Andrew publicly pledged, together with in a press release stepping down from his public duties and in his Newsnight interview, to help the U.S. authorities with their prison investigation of Epstein and his co-conspirators.

      A press release by His Royal Highness The Duke of York (Nov. 20 2019), obtainable at https://www.royal.uk/statement-his-royal-highness-duke-york (‘After all, I’m keen to assist any applicable legislation enforcement company with their investigations, if required.’).

61. Regardless of this public pledge, Prince Andrew has refused to cooperate with U.S. authorities. Former SDNY U.S. Legal professional Geoffrey Berman acknowledged that Prince Andrew had supplied ‘zero co-operation’ regardless of U.S. prosecutors and the FBI contacting Prince Andrew’s counsel. Prince Andrew offers ‘zero co-operation’ over Epstein inquiry, US prosecutor says, BBC Information (Jan. 27, 2020), obtainable at https://www.bbc.com/information/uk-51271871.

62. Prince Andrew and his counsel have additionally refused to cooperate with counsel for the victims of Epstein’s intercourse trafficking. Counsel for the victims of Epstein’s intercourse trafficking, together with counsel for Plaintiff, have repeatedly requested for a gathering or phone name with Prince Andrew and/or his representatives to allow Prince Andrew to offer no matter info, context, or rationalization he may need, and to discover various dispute decision approaches. Prince Andrew and his representatives have rejected all such requests, and responded by escalating their vile and baseless assaults on Plaintiff and others.

63. On July 19, 2021, counsel for Plaintiff proposed a tolling settlement that may have enabled Plaintiff to not sue Prince Andrew right now, whereas avoiding any argument that her failure to take action brought about her claims to be time-barred. Once more Prince Andrew stonewalled—ignoring Plaintiff’s letter and emails with none reply or response, thereby making this motion essential now. A duplicate of the July 19, 2021, letter proposing a tolling settlement is hooked up as Exhibit A to this Grievance.

64. On this nation no particular person, whether or not President or Prince, is above the legislation, and no particular person, regardless of how powerless or weak, might be disadvantaged of the legislation’s safety. Twenty years in the past Prince Andrew’s wealth, energy, place, and connections enabled him to abuse a frightened, weak baby with nobody there to guard her. It’s gone the time for him to be held to account.

 

FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION (Battery)

65. Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges the allegations acknowledged above as if absolutely set forth herein.

66. Prince Andrew deliberately dedicated battery by sexually assaulting Plaintiff when she was a minor. As described above, on a number of events Prince Andrew deliberately touched Plaintiff in an offensive and sexual method with out her consent.

67. Prince Andrew’s actions represent sexual offenses as outlined in New York Penal Legislation Article 130, together with however not restricted to sexual misconduct as outlined in Article 130.20, rape within the third diploma as outlined in Article 130.25, rape within the first diploma as outlined in Article 130.35, forcible touching as outlined in Article 130.52, sexual abuse within the third diploma as outlined in Article 130.55, and sexual abuse within the first diploma as outlined in Article 130.65. See N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214-g.

68. As a direct and proximate results of Prince Andrew’s prison acts, Plaintiff has previously and can sooner or later proceed to endure substantial damages, together with excessive emotional misery, humiliation, concern, psychological trauma, lack of dignity and vanity, and invasion of her privateness.

 

SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION (Intentional Infliction of Emotional Misery)

69. Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges the allegations acknowledged above as if absolutely set forth herein.

70. As a direct results of these allegations as acknowledged, Prince Andrew dedicated intentional infliction of emotional misery in opposition to Plaintiff.

71. Prince Andrew’s actions, described above, represent excessive and outrageous conduct that shocks the conscience. Prince Andrew’s sexual abuse of a kid who he knew was a sex-trafficking sufferer, and when he was roughly 40 years previous, goes past all potential bounds of decency and is insupportable in a civilized neighborhood.

72. Prince Andrew knew or disregarded the substantial chance that these actions would trigger Plaintiff extreme emotional misery.

73. As a direct and proximate results of Prince Andrew’s prison acts, Plaintiff has previously and can sooner or later proceed to endure substantial damages, together with excessive emotional misery, humiliation, concern, psychological trauma, lack of dignity and vanity, and invasion of her privateness.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests judgment in opposition to Defendant, awarding compensatory, consequential, exemplary, and punitive damages in an quantity to be decided at trial; prices of go well with; attorneys’ charges; and such different and additional aid because the Courtroom could deem simply and correct.

 

JURY DEMAND

Plaintiff hereby calls for a trial by jury on all causes of motion asserted inside this pleading.

 

 Dated: August 9, 2021