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Prince Andrew “knows what he has done and I hope he clears it up.” This is how Virginia Giuffre, one of the women who are demanding justice in the process against Jeffrey Epstein for alleged abuse and sexual exploitation, has expressed herself this Tuesday. Giuffre made these statements to the media after appearing in an extraordinary hearing before Judge Richard Berman, in New York, so that the victims could tell their story before the case against the billionaire is dismissed after committing suicide in his cell on August 10.
It is not the first time that Giuffre has accused the son of Elizabeth II, who has denied the facts on several occasions, nor that he has jumped into the media. The last time was in mid-August, when a series of documents were revealed detailing Epstein’s practices involving Andres of England. The Duke of York was identified as responsible for touching the breast of a minor and committing other acts against at least two victims – Joanna Sjoberg and Virginia Giuffre – at Jeffrey Epstein’s mansion in Manhattan, according to documents presented by her attorneys. last in 2017.
She was one of more than twenty women who testified in Manhattan court this Tuesday. Judge Berman explained that the appearance was called out of respect for the victims and praised their “courage.” The women recounted how Epstein “stole” their dreams and their innocence. “Today we are together. I will not remain a victim or remain silent for another day,” said actress Anouska De Georgiou. Hugging, comforting and crying, the women listened to the testimonies of the rest, all alike: young and vulnerable women recruited, prepared and forced to provide sexual services to the billionaire, who was facing 45 years in prison.
One of them, Chauntae Davies, described how she spent two weeks “vomiting almost to death” in a hospital after being raped by Epstein and after being recruited by Epstein to give her massages. With “every public humiliation I have endured, I have suffered and he has won,” she said. Another victim, who asked to remain anonymous, said she will be “forever disturbed” after the rape. “I was her slave. I felt helpless and ashamed,” she said, claiming that Epstein threatened to kill her if he found out she was not a virgin.
Most of the women who told their story expressed outrage at the businessman’s suicide. “I feel very angry and sad that justice was never served in this case,” said Courtney Wild, who described him as a “coward.” Jennifer Araoz said that not having the possibility to face him in court “consumed her soul.” And for Giuffre, his death should not stop the reflection on what happened.
Some of them not only remember Epstein, but also those whom they define as “accomplices”, such as his ex-lover, the English Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of the late media mogul Robert Maxwell. And they asked the Prosecutor’s Office to capture and incriminate those who participated in the crime. Maxwell, unaccounted for, has denied the allegations against him. “Please, please, finish what you started. The American victims are prepared to tell the truth. He did not act alone,” Sarah Ransome told the judge, adding that Epstein ran “an international sex trafficking ring.”
US prosecutor Maurene Comey assured them that the government will continue to investigate. Like the FBI, which opened an investigation into the businessman’s suicide.
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