PRINCE Andrew is set to argue the sexual abuse case against him is invalid as his accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre made a settlement with paedo financier Jeffrey Epstein referencing “royalty”, it was claimed today.
Ms Guiffre, 38, struck a deal with convicted sex offender Epstein in 2009 for undisclosed damages after accusing him of sexual abuse and exploitation.
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The confidential agreement, which has remained sealed, said that Ms Guiffre would not take any more action against Epstein or his accusers.
The Duke of Windsor’s legal team are set to argue that the word “royalty” refers to him as no other royals have been implicated in the Epstein case, The Sunday Telegraph reports.
The prince has consistently denied the allegations levelled against him.
Ms Giuffre is suing Prince Andrew, 61, for undisclosed damages, claiming she was forced to have sex with the royal three times when she was 17.
Last month, Prince Andrew’s hotshot Hollywood lawyer Andrew Brettler, told a pre-trial hearing he believed the 2009 settlement signed by his accuser with Epstein released the Duke and others from “any and all potential liability”.
LEGAL BATTLE
Ms Guiffre’s original complaint against Epstein said: “In addition to being continually exploited to satisfy the defendant’s every sexual whim, Plaintiff was also required to be sexually exploited by defendant’s adult male peers, including royalty, politicians, academicians, businessmen and/or other professional and personal acquaintances.”
Epstein’s former lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who was accused of sexual assault by Ms Guiffre in 2019, used the settlement to have the abuse claim struck out.
She reportedly dropped the claim because of the Epstein settlement last month.
Mr Dershowitz told The Telegraph: “I cannot imagine how the case against the Prince will not be dismissed based on the dismissal of the case against me.”
But David Boies, Ms Giuffre’s lawyer, said the royal reference is “irrelevant” to the case.
Andrew’s US legal team has until October 29 to respond to the allegations made by Ms Guiffre, which the Duke has denied.
The Met has also completed its review into claims British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend, trafficked, groomed and abused women and girls in the UK.
No further action will be taken.
A source close to Andrew said: “Despite media pressure and claims of new evidence, the Met concluded the claims are not sufficient for further investigation.”
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