Britain’s Prince Andrew settled a civil lawsuit by Virginia Guiffre that is accusing him of sexual abuse when she was 17. Here’s all about the settlement.
What are the claims against Prince Andrew?
Virginia Guiffre, also known as Virginia Roberts, sued the Duke of York in New York last year. She stated that Prince Andrew forced her for having intercourse at Ghislaine Maxwell’s London home. Ghislaine Maxwell is a British socialite. Maxwell is also a long-time associate of Epstein. Epstein, a former teacher turned globetrotting financer took his own life in a jail cell in Manhattan in 2019. The 66-year-old was awaiting trial on charges of sexual abuse. Additionally, Maxwell was also convicted for sex trafficking among other crimes on December 29, 2021. However, Andrew denied Guiffre’s claims.
What is the settlement all about?
Previously, Andrew requested a trial with a jury. But, settlements are out-of-court resolutions for civil disputes. Hence, due to the settlement, the trial will not be taking place. According to U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, the trial may only begin between September and December 2022. Had there been a trial and if Giuffre won, he would be ordered to pay for the damages. While Andrew and Guiffre’s lawyers did not disclose the details about the payment, they stated that Prince is making a “substantial donation” to Guiffre’s charity. According to the lawyers, it is for supporting victims’ rights.
So far, Prince Andrew has not confirmed or denied Giuffre’s claims. He stated his regret towards his association with Epstein. He also promised for demonstrating his regret by “supporting the victims of sex trafficking”. “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,” read the statement. The allegations made have affected Andrew’s reputation significantly. Since the issue, Andrew stepped down from his public duties.