Virgina Giuffre
US sex trafficking survivor Virgina Giuffre sues Britain's Prince Andrew for alleged sexual abuse
New York: A US woman, who is a sex trafficking survivor, has filed a civil case in New York against Prince Andrew of Britain claiming she was sexually assaulted by him when she was 17 years old.
Virgina Giuffre filed the case through her lawyers in Manhattan federal court under New York's Child Victims Act.
Giuffre is also an accuser of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, 66, who committed suicide as he awaited trial in Federal jail next to the court.
Prince Andrew has denied any connection or ever knowing Giuffre but acknowledged his friendship with Epstein.
Giuffre has said she was trafficked by Epstein to UK and was subjected to sex abuse from 2000 to 2002, starting at age 16.
She alleged that the prince forced her to have sexual intercourse at the London home of Epstein's long time associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently awaiting trial on Federal charges related to the alleged sex trafficking.
She said Prince Andrew also abused her at Epstein's mansion on Manhattan's Upper East side and on a private Island that Epstein owned in the US Virgin Islands.
In a statement on Monday, Giuffre said she was "holding Prince Andrew accountable for what he did to me".
“The powerful and rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions. I hope that other victims will see that it is possible not to live in silence and fear, but to reclaim one’s life by speaking out and demanding justice,” Giuffre said, reported Al Jazeera.
“I did not come to this decision lightly,” she added, according to the report. “As a mother and a wife, my family comes first – and I know that this action will subject me to further attacks by Prince Andrew and his surrogates – but I knew if I did not pursue this action, I would be letting them and victims everywhere down,” it said.
"Twenty years ago Prince Andrew's wealth, power, position, and connections enabled him to abuse a frightened, vulnerable child with no one there to protect her. It is long past the time for him to be held to account."
Her statement also said that the "extreme and outrageous conduct" continues to cause Giuffre, now 38, "significant emotional and psychological distress and harm", said a BBC report.
Speaking about Giuffre's allegations in 2019, Prince Andrew said they "never happened", stated the BBC report.
"It didn't happen. I can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened. I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever," he told BBC Newsnight.
The BBC report further added that Prince Andrew later said: "I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein.
"His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure.
"I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required."
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