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Prince Andrew sued by Jeffrey Epstein victim who claims he sexually abused her

Published 08:33 10 Aug 2021 BST

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Prince Andrew has now been directly accused through a lawsuit

Prince Andrew is being sued by one of the victims of Jeffrey Epstein. The suit alleges that the Duke of York abused her at Epstein's mansion while she was under the age of eighteen. According to court records, Virginia Giuffre has issued legal proceedings against the Duke of York over allegations he assaulted her at Epstein's Manhattan home and another location while she was under eighteen. She had brought proceeding under America’s "Child Victims Act" saying she was "trafficked to him and sexually abused by him" when she was seventeen. Andrew has repeatedly denied all allegations made against him and denies even meeting her. Giuffre’s lawyer, David Boies, said: “If she doesn't do it now, she would be allowing him to escape any accountability for his actions. “And Virginia is committed to trying to avoid situations where rich and powerful people escape any accountability for their actions.” Giuffre alleges Epstein and his conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell instructed her to engage in sex acts with the Duke of York. “During this encounter, Maxwell forced Plaintiff, a child, and another victim to sit on Prince Andrew’s lap as Prince Andrew touched her. During his visit to New York, Prince Andrew forced Plaintiff to engage in sex acts against her will,” the lawsuit states. “On another occasion, Prince Andrew sexually abused Plaintiff on Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Little St. James,” it adds. "I am holding Prince Andrew accountable for what he did to me. The powerful and the rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions," wrote Giuffre. “I hope that other victims will see that it is possible not to live in silence and fear, but one can reclaim her life by speaking out and demanding justice. "I did not come to this decision lightly. As a mother and a wife, my family comes first. I know that this action will subject me to further attacks by Prince Andrew and his surrogates. “But I knew that if I did not pursue this action, I would be letting them and victims everywhere down.”