L'affaire d'agression sexuelle du prince Andrew officiellement close après versement d'un règlement

Le prince Andrew. POOL / REUTERS
LE FIGARO : Virginia Giuffre avait déclaré avoir eu des relations sexuelles avec Andrew lorsqu'elle avait 17 ans, et donc mineure selon la loi américaine, après l'avoir rencontré par l'intermédiaire du financier américain Jeffrey Epstein.

L'action en justice pour agression sexuelle intentée à New York contre le prince Andrew par son accusatrice de longue date, Virginia Giuffre, a été officiellement abandonnée après un règlement financier, selon des documents judiciaires publiés mardi. En février, les parties avaient conclu un accord à l'amiable pour une somme non divulguée, épargnant au deuxième fils de la reine Elizabeth II l'humiliation publique d'un procès. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | mercredi 9 mars 2022

Inside the Court Case That Ended in the Humiliation of Prince Andrew | 60 Minutes Australia

Not all pictures tell a thousand words. This one tells so many more. We’ll never know for sure, but it’s also probably worth about $20 million. That’s the reported price Prince Andrew will pay Virginia Guiffre to settle a very disturbing legal case against him. She says when she was 17 she was trafficked to the Prince by the paedophile businessman Jeffrey Epstein, ably assisted by his sex-offender partner, Ghislaine Maxwell. Despite that photo, Andrew denies ever meeting, let alone having sex with Ms Guiffre, but he’s been so discredited, these days it’s difficult to believe anything the disgraced royal says.

L'accord secret du prince Andrew avec Virginia Giuffre

Feb 18, 2022 • Dans la foulée de l’annonce, ce mardi, de la signature d’un accord financier entre le prince Andrew et Virginia Giuffre, l'Américaine qui l'accuse d’agressions sexuelles en 2001 alors qu’elle était mineure, la presse britannique dévoile son montant, près de 12 millions de livres.

Funding of Prince Andrew’s Settlement to Be Raised in Parliament

THE GUARDIAN: Labour’s Andy McDonald said he will seek assurances public money will not be used when MPs return next week

Andrew will have to pay a settlement of up to £12m, according to speculation. Photograph: Will Oliver/EPA
A Labour MP intends to seek assurances in parliament that public money will not be used to pay for the Duke of York’s settlement with Virginia Giuffre.

An out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed sum, reportedly as high as £12m, was reached with Giuffre, who was suing the Queen’s son claiming he had sexually abused her after she was trafficked by his friend and convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein.

Andrew, 61, announced a “settlement in principle” with Giuffre, 38, on Tuesday in a joint statement that made no admission of guilt over the allegations which he has always denied.

Andy McDonald, the MP for Middlesbrough, said he would raise the issue when MPs return to Westminster next week after their half-term break. » | Nadeem Badshah | Thursday, February 17, 2022

Prince Andrew Settles US Civil Sex Assault Case with Virginia Giuffre - BBC News

Feb 15, 2022 • Prince Andrew has settled a civil sexual assault case brought against him in the US by Virginia Giuffre.

Ms Giuffre had been suing the Duke of York, claiming he sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17, allegations he has repeatedly denied.

A letter filed to the US district court on Tuesday said the duke and Ms Giuffre had reached an out-of-court settlement.

It said the duke would pay an undisclosed sum to Ms Giuffre.

His representatives said he had no comment beyond what was said in the document filed to the court.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the settlement.


MEHR ZU DIESER GESCHICHTE AUF DEUTSCH AUS DER SCHWEIZ:

Prinz Andrew kauft sich frei: In ihrem Jubiläumsjahr bleibt der Queen ein Missbrauchsprozess in der Familie erspart: Erst wollte sich Prinz Andrew persönlich vor Gericht verteidigen, jetzt gibt er klein bei. Das Ende des Streits mit Virginia Giuffre soll ihn bis zu 12 Millionen Pfund kosten – aber angeblich hilft die Kasse der Monarchin, die auf noch mehr Unruhe verzichten kann. »

Prince Andrew Settles Virginia Giuffre Sexual Assault Case in US

THE GUARDIAN: Duke of York promises to make ‘substantial donation’ to Giuffre’s charity, court documents show

Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre. The duke accepted that Giuffre had ‘suffered as an established victim of abuse’. Photograph: US district court - Southern Dis/AFP/Getty Images
Prince Andrew has reached a settlement in the civil sexual assault claim filed by Virginia Giuffre in the US.

The unexpected development was disclosed in a document submitted to court on Tuesday. Andrew has agreed to make a “substantial donation” to a charity, and has accepted that Giuffre “suffered as an established victim of abuse”. He commended Giuffre’s bravery.

The document added that the prince also regretted his association with the financier Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in prison while facing trial for sex crimes.

The move is a remarkable turnaround for the Duke of York, who had pledged to fight to clear his name in court. He has always denied having a sexual relationship with Giuffre when she was 17.

The court document said: “Virginia Giuffre and Prince Andrew have reached an out of court settlement. The parties will file a stipulated dismissal upon Ms Giuffre’s receipt of the settlement (the sum of which is not being disclosed).

“Prince Andrew intends to make a substantial donation to Ms Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights. » | Harriet Sherwood and agency | Tuesday, February 15, 2022

The original court document can be viewed here.

Related.

Prince Andrew Settles Sexual Abuse Lawsuit With Virginia Giuffre: Financial terms of the settlement, which was announced in a federal court filing in Manhattan on Tuesday, were not revealed. »

Affaire Epstein : le prince Andrew trouve un accord avec son accusatrice, Virginia Giuffre, pour éviter un procès : L’Américaine de 38 ans accusait le deuxième fils de la reine Elizabeth II de l’avoir agressée sexuellement en 2001, alors qu’elle était mineure. Les termes financiers de l’accord n’ont pas été dévoilés. »

Prinz Andrew erzielt Einigung mit Klägerin Giuffre: Im Missbrauchsverfahren hat Prinz Andrew eine außergerichtliche Einigung mit der Klägerin Virginia Giuffre erzielt. Das geht aus einem am Dienstag veröffentlichten Gerichtsdokument hervor. »

Missbrauchsvorwürfe gegen Prinz Andrew: Einigung auf Vergleich mit Klägerin Virginia Giuffre: Nach dem Tod von Jeffrey Epstein und dem Schuldspruch von Ghislaine Maxwell rückt nun der Sohn der Queen in den Fokus. Prinz Andrew droht wegen Vorwürfen des sexuellen Missbrauchs ein Prozess. »

Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre Reach Out-of-court Settlement in Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Feb 15, 2022 • Prince Andrew has settled a civil sexual assault case brought against him by Virginia Giuffre.

A letter filed to the US district court on Tuesday said the Duke of York and Ms Giuffre had reached an out-of-court settlement.

She had previously claimed Andrew sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17, allegations he has repeatedly denied.

The letter added that the Duke "never intended to malign Ms Giuffre's character" and that he recognised she had "suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks".

Prince Andrew: The Lengthy and Embarrassing Legal Ordeal Ahead

THE GUARDIAN: The lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre in Manhattan is likely to go to trial by jury, US legal experts say

When a Manhattan judge rejected Prince Andrew’s efforts to dismiss Virginia Giuffre’s sexual abuse lawsuit against him on Wednesday, it marked a victory for his longtime accuser.

Judge Lewis Kaplan’s ruling also means that the embattled royal will remain embroiled in lengthy – and embarrassing – legal proceedings for the foreseeable future.

“This is a huge development because it clears probably the biggest legal hurdle Virginia Giuffre and her team had to get her case to a jury,” said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and co-founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers.

Giuffre, now 38, has long alleged that she was coerced into sex with the Duke of York at the age of 17 by two of his associates – the disgraced American financier effrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. Andrew’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kaplan’s decision. » | Victoria Bekiempis in New York | Thursday, January 13, 2022

Im von Virginia Guiffre angestrengten Verfahren bleiben Prinz Andrew nur noch schlechte Optionen: Dem Herzog von York bleibt keine andere Wahl mehr, als auf die Missbrauchsvorwürfe des Epstein-Opfers Virginia Guiffre zu reagieren. Sowohl ein aussergerichtlicher Vergleich wie ein Prozess wären mit einem grossen Imageschaden verbunden. »

Prince Andrew civil case: What happens next?: It couldn't have been a worse result for Prince Andrew. »

Prince Andrew Fails to Stop US Sexual Abuse Civil Case Brought by Virginia Giuffre

Jan 12, 2022 • Prince Andrew has long denied accusations he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre when she was 17, and had tried to use a settlement she reached years ago with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to stop a civil case before it started.

The prince's hopes were dashed today by a New York judge.

A civil trial will be humiliating for the Duke of York, and for his family. But if he settles out of court who will pay the bill?

Judge Rejects Prince Andrew's Bid to Dismiss Giuffre Lawsuit

Jan 12, 2022 • A federal judge in New York denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against Prince Andrew filed by Virginia Giuffre, a woman who alleges she was sexually trafficked to the royal when she was underage. CNN's Max Foster reports.

Related links.

Prince Andrew Rejected in Effort to Get US Sexual Abuse Case Dismissed

THE GUARDIAN: Virginia Giuffre’s civil claim against duke can move forward, federal judge rules in New York

• This article contains descriptions of sexual abuse

Prince Andrew last year. Virginia Giuffre alleges Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell forced her into sex with the duke when she was 17. Andrew denies the allegation. Photograph: Reuters
Longtime Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre’s sexual abuse lawsuit against him can move forward, as a New York judge rejected the royal’s efforts to dismiss her civil claim on Wednesday.

Giuffre, who has alleged that the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell sexually abused her, said they forced her into sex with the Duke of York at age 17. She filed suit against the royal on 9 August, citing battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Prince Andrew’s legal team had argued in court papers and proceedings that Giuffre’s 2009 settlement with Epstein shielded him from her lawsuit. The settlement, which was unsealed on 3 January, awarded Giuffre $500,000.

Their agreement contained a provision that stated: “Second parties and any other person or entity who could have been included as a potential defendant … from all, and all manner of, action and actions of Virginia [Giuffre], including state or federal, cause and causes of action.”

Andrew was not mentioned by name in this settlement.

In explaining why he rejected Andrew’s motion to dismiss, Manhattan federal court judge Lewis Kaplan said it was premature to consider the prince’s efforts to cast doubt on Giuffre’s accusations. » | Victoria Bekiempis in New York | Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Prince Andrew WILL face sex assault lawsuit in US: Royal to be called for dramatic court showdown in New York as judge refuses his attempt to throw out Virginia Roberts's case accusing him of having sex with her when she was 17: Prince Andrew hoped Epstein's $500,000 settlement to drop Giuffre's claims would help dismiss her case / Duke of York's lawyers claimed it contained a clause that prevented her pursuing friends of Epstein / But New York Judge Kaplan threw Andrew's application out of court today, paving the way for civil trial / Ms Giuffre claims she was forced to have sex with the Duke three times in 2001 at Epstein's multiple homes / Andrew now faces being deposed and giving evidence at a trial penciled in for the US courts in September »

Affaire Epstein : une plainte pour agressions sexuelles contre le prince Andrew jugée recevable par la justice américaine : Souvent présenté comme le fils préféré d’Elizabeth II, le duc d’York est impliqué dans le scandale d’agressions sexuelles lié au financier américain Jeffrey Epstein, mort en 2019. Un procès civil pourrait se tenir à la fin de l’année 2022. »

La justice américaine donne son feu vert à un procès du prince Andrew : Le deuxième fils de la reine d'Angleterre est accusé d'«agressions sexuelles» par une victime du financier défunt Jeffrey Epstein. »

Die Klage gegen Prinz Andrew wird nicht fallengelassen: Der Sohn der Queen ist mit seinem Versuch gescheitert, eine Zivilklage, in der ihm Virginia Giuffre sexuelle Übergriffe vorwirft, von einem US-Richter abweisen zu lassen. »

Prinz Andrew scheitert mit Abweisungsantrag gegen Missbrauchsklage: Ein Gericht in New York wies Einwände von Prinz Andrews Anwälten zurück. Damit scheitert Andrew, die US-Klage wegen Missbrauchsvorwürfen gegen ihn zu stoppen. Der Prozess könnte im Herbst beginnen. »

Royals Await Anxiously the Fallout from Prince Andrew’s Disgrace

THE OBSERVER: The Queen’s favourite child, under siege in the press as he awaits a critical court ruling, is not the first obnoxious royal. But he has damaged ‘the Firm’ – and it will have to change

Prince Andrew talks with the Queen as the royal family wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after Trooping the Colour in June 2018. Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, KG, GCVO, CD, ADC, turns 62 next month. It is long past the age at which a man is expected to stop being a cause of concern and embarrassment to his parents. And yet Andrew, who is said to be the Queen’s favourite child, has exposed his mother to the greatest threat to the royal family’s reputation in living memory.

As he awaits the decision of a New York judge, Lewis Kaplan, in the sex assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre, the prince finds himself in the deeply unedifying position of trying to evade court with a secret silencing deal struck by his late friend and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.

The agreement, signed in 2009, stated that in exchange for being paid $500,000, Giuffre, then using her maiden name of Roberts, would “release … and forever discharge … second parties and any other person or entity who could have been included as a potential defendant … from all, and all manner of, action and actions of Virginia Roberts, including state or federal, cause and causes of action”.

Giuffre maintains that in 2001 when she was 17 she was trafficked by Epstein and his sometime girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell to have sex with the prince on three occasions – once in Maxwell’s house in Belgravia, where the infamous photograph was taken of her with the then 42-year-old prince’s hand around her waist, on the second occasion at Epstein’s mansion in New York and finally on Epstein’s private island, Little St James in the US Virgin Islands, with a group of other girls. The prince denies all allegations and says he has no recollection of ever having met Giuffre. » | Andrew Anthony | Saturday, January 8, 2022

Judge Deals Blow to Prince Andrew’s Hopes of Dismissing Virginia Giuffre Sex Claim

The Duke of York, who vehemently denies the allegations, is attempting to have the lawsuit thrown out | NEIL HALL/PA
THE TIMES: The Duke of York’s hopes of stopping a sexual assault lawsuit filed by Virginia Roberts Giuffre appeared to diminish as a judge in New York questioned his lawyer’s arguments that an earlier settlement shielded him from being sued.

Andrew Brettler, the duke’s lawyer, argued that an agreement Giuffre signed with the American child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2009 to settle a $500,000 suit, protecting “other potential defendants” from further legal action, included Prince Andrew. However, Judge Lewis Kaplan said that the definition of “potential defendants” was unclear and pointed to two sentences in the agreement that seemed to suggest it could not be used by Andrew. » | Will Pavia, New York | Valentine Low | Wednesday, January 5, 2022 [£]

Prince Andrew to Face Court Hearing in Sexual Misconduct Case l GMA

Jan 4, 2022 • Attorneys for the prince claim unsealed documents should prevent the British royal from being sued by an alleged victim of Jeffrey Epstein.

Hiding behind the loophole of a dead sex trafficker? Stay classy, Andrew »

Prince Andrew Accuser Virginia Giuffre’s Legal Deal with Jeffrey Epstein Released

THE GUARDIAN: Unsealing stems from Giuffre’s sexual abuse lawsuit against duke, filed in Manhattan federal court in August

Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell. The Duke of York vehemently maintained his innocence against the claims made against him. Photograph: Enterprise News and Pictures
A near-dozen-year-old legal settlement between Virginia Giuffre and Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender whom she accused of sexual abuse, was released on Monday. Giuffre received $500,000 in her lawsuit against Epstein, court papers revealed.

The unsealing stemmed from Giuffre’s sexual abuse lawsuit against Prince Andrew, which she filed on 9 August in Manhattan federal court.

Giuffre has long accused Epstein and his sometime girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell – now a convicted sex trafficker, after the conclusion of her New York trial last week – of forcing her into sex with the royal when she was 17.

He vehemently maintains his innocence.

Andrew filed Giuffre’s settlement with Epstein as part of his attempt to dismiss her case, arguing that it shields him. Lawyers for the prince contend the settlement contains provisions that bar Giuffre from taking legal action against many of Epstein’s associates. » | Victoria Bekiempis in New York | Monday, January 3, 2022

Kommt Prinz Andrew ins Schwitzen?: Prinz Andrew muss am Dienstag in Manhattan vor Gericht. Virginia Giuffre wirft dem Royal vor, sie als Minderjährige sexuell missbraucht zu haben. Der Adelige setze in der Vergangenheit bereits auf eine sonderbare Ausrede. »

US Judge Delivers Double Setback to Prince Andrew’s Abuse Case Battle

THE OBSERVER: Pressure grows on duke to settle alleged victim’s claim before key hearing this week

Prince Andrew in Norfolk in 2020. Photograph: Lindsey Parnaby/AFP/Getty Images
Two of Prince Andrew’s avenues to prevent or stall the progression of Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s sex assault lawsuit against him were blocked on Saturday by a federal judge, increasing pressure to settle claims before a crucial court hearing this week.

Judge Lewis A Kaplan, in a written order, told the prince’s lawyers they must turn over documents on the schedule that has been set in the lawsuit brought by Guiffre who claims she was abused – aged 17 – by the prince on multiple occasions in 2001 while she was being sexually abused by financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Kaplan also rejected arguments by the prince’s lawyer, Andrew Brettler, on jurisdiction grounds after they argued last week that the lawsuit should be dismissed because Giuffre, a US citizen, no longer lives in the US.

The rulings come before an important case hearing in New York on Tuesday, one day after the scheduled public release on Monday of a 2009 settlement agreement between Epstein and Giuffre that lawyers for Andrew had hoped would protect him from Guiffre’s claims. » | Edward Helmore and Mark Townsend | Saturday, January 1, 2022

What Ghislaine Maxwell's Conviction Means for Britain's Royal Family l GMA

Dec 31, 2021 • Lawyers for Britain's Prince Andrew are due in court next week as he battles lawsuits brought by an Epstein accuser not part of the criminal case against Maxwell.


Prince Andrew ‘cannot prove’ his inability to sweat after request by Virginia Giuffre’s lawyers »

Prince Andrew Could Face US Trial in 2022 over Alleged Sexual Abuse, Judge Says

THE GUARDIAN: Development comes after Andrew’s lawyers attacked Virginia Giuffre, accusing her of seeking a ‘payday’ at prince’s expense

Virginia Giuffre’s civil lawsuit alleges she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17 years old. Photograph: Steve Parsons/AFP/Getty Images
Prince Andrew could face civil trial in the US over alleged sexual abuse at the end of 2022, a judge said on Wednesday.

Speaking [at] during a phone conference with lawyers in New York, US district judge Lewis Kaplan said he anticipates a trial date of “somewhere in the September to December period of next year”.

The development came after Andrew’s lawyers attacked his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, in legal filings over the weekend, accusing her of seeking a “payday” at Andrew’s expense and referring to accusations that Guiffre was a “sex kitten”. » | Adam Gabbatt and agency | Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Prince Andrew’s Criticisms of Virginia Giuffre May Backfire, Lawyers Say

THE GUARDIAN: UK experts say accusing Giuffre of seeking a ‘payday’ at prince’s expense is risky

Prince Andrew has applied to have Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit against him in the US dismissed. Photograph: Lindsey Parnaby/AFP/Getty Images
THE GUARDIAN: UK experts say accusing Giuffre of seeking a ‘payday’ at prince’s expense is risky

Prince Andrew’s attacks on Virginia Giuffre’s character in an attempt to get her sexual assault lawsuit against him thrown out may fail and risk doing further damage to his reputation, British lawyers have said.

Having initially attempted to prevent service of the suit, which alleges that he sexually abused Giuffre when she was 17, the prince’s lawyers went on the offensive over the weekend in an attempt to get her “baseless” claim dismissed.

Their filings accuse Giuffre of seeking a “payday” at Andrew’s expense and contain references from friends and in newspaper articles to her being a “money hungry sex kitten” and recruiting girls for the convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who died in custody in 2019, awaiting trial.

At the same time they argue that a 2009 settlement agreement between Giuffre and Epstein, formerly a friend of Andrew, absolves the prince from responsibility, a notion rejected by Giuffre’s lawyer. » | Haroon Siddique, Legal affairs correspondent | Monday, November 1, 2021

Prince Andrew Asks US Judge to Dismiss Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Abuse

THE GUARDIAN: Duke of York says Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of forcing her to have sex when she was 17, failed to state claim warranting relief

Prince Andrew in 2013. He said if a dismissal were not granted, Virginia Giuffre should provide a ‘more definitive statement’ of her allegations. Photograph: Shizuo Kambayashi/AP
THE GUARDIAN: Duke of York says Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of forcing her to have sex when she was 17, failed to state claim warranting relief

Prince Andrew has asked a US judge to dismiss Virginia Giuffre’s civil lawsuit accusing him of sexually abusing her when she was 17.

In a filing with the US district court in Manhattan on Friday, the Duke of York said the case should be dismissed because Giuffre failed to state a claim warranting relief.

He also said that if dismissal were not granted, Giuffre should provide a “more definitive statement” of her allegations.

Lawyers for Giuffre did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Giuffre, 38, who is one of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent accusers, sued Andrew for unspecified damages in August.

She accused him of forcing her to have sex when she was underage at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate of Epstein, the late financier and registered sex offender, more than two decades ago.

Giuffre also accused Andrew of abusing her at Epstein’s mansion in Manhattan, and on one of Epstein’s private islands in the US Virgin Islands.

Andrew, 61, a former friend of Epstein, has not been charged with crimes, and has “categorically” denied Giuffre’s claims. » | Reuters | Friday, October 29, 2021

Prince Andrew is accused of 'victim shaming' by branding Virginia Giuffre a publicity-hungry liar who made up her claims of sexual assault for a 'payday' »