U.S. Judge sets January date for hearing in sexual abuse civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew

By Larry John Brown

Published: November 6, 2021 | 11:14 AM GMT

A New York judge has set a hearing date for Prince Andrew’s motion to dismiss the sexual assault case brought against him by Virginia Roberts, Jeffrey Epstein’s accuser. On the morning of January 4, next year, the court will hear “the defendant’s move to dismiss the lawsuit,” according to Judge Lewis Kaplan.

Virginia Giuffre filed a federal complaint in Manhattan federal court accusing the Duke of York, 61, of sexually assaulting her while she was a juvenile over 20 years ago.

Ms. Giuffre alleges that late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein lent her out for sex with his wealthy and powerful associates, including Andrew. She says the prince assaulted her at Epstein’s home in New York, as well as on his private island in the US Virgin Islands.

Ms. Giuffre alleges that Andrew also sexually abused her at the London home of socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges she helped recruit and groom underage girls for Epstein to abuse. Her trial begins on November 29.

The 38-year-old, who was known as Virginia Roberts at the time of the allegations, is also expected to request the Duke of York gives testimony under oath.

Her lawyer David Boies said that he would seek to depose between eight and 12 people while the Duke’s lawyers wanted to question a similar number.

It is possible that Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, could be called to give evidence after Mr Boies told the court he intended to formally speak with two British witnesses.

The prince has not been charged with crimes and has denied the allegations made against him.

He has also accused her of trying to profit from accusations against Epstein, who Giuffre says also abused her, and people who knew him.

Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. A medical examiner called his death a suicide.

Andrew denies the charges and has called for the complaint to be dismissed, saying it was ‘without merit’ and that Giuffre was seeking to profit financially from the case.

About Larry John Brown

Larry John is a talented writer and journalist based in New York, USA. He is a valued contributor to TDPel Media, where he creates engaging and informative content for readers. Larry has a keen interest in current events, business, and technology, and he enjoys exploring these topics in-depth to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the issues. His writing style is characterized by its clarity, precision, and attention to detail, which make his articles a pleasure to read. Larry’s passion for storytelling has earned him a reputation as a skilled writer and a respected authority in his field.