Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Get aggressive’ over Andrew & Epstein probe
Hope for justice under Biden
VICTIMS of paedophile Jeffrey Epstein hope his pal Prince Andrew will be pursued “more aggressively” under new US President Joe Biden.
Lawyer Lisa Bloom, who represents five victims, said she hoped justice would be achieved after Biden and his Vice President, former prosecutor Kamala Harris, are sworn in.
She told the Mirror : “I do have hope that the Biden-harris administration will be more aggressive in standing with victims of sexual assault. It is essential that Prince Andrew cooperate with authorities, as he said he would, so that they can fully investigate him and all others accused of enabling prolific predator Jeffrey Epstein.”
Spencer Kuvin, who has represented several Epstein victims for over a decade, added: “The lead prosecutors are the ones that will have control over the speed and enforcement of this prosecution.
“These US Attorneys are appointed by the administration. We hope that President-elect Biden will pick a strong new
Attorney General who understands the history of this case.”
He said he feared Andrew was unlikely to give a statement over the case unless he surrenders himself to the US courts.
The prince, 60, has been accused by Epstein sex slave Virginia Giuffre of sleeping with her three times. He and his legal team have vehemently denied her allegations.
Victims have long expressed fears that Trump’s former personal friendship with Epstein and his alleged “madam” Ghislaine Maxwell might have affected the US Justice Department’s handling of the case.
The President once said of the billionaire: “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger
I hope BidenHarris will stand with victims
LISA BLOOM LAWYER FOR 5 EPSTEIN VICTIMS
side” side.” But after Ep Epstein was arrested last year Trump distanced himself, saying: “I had a falling out a long time ago with him.
“I don’t think I’ve spoken to him in 15 years. I was not a fan of his.”
At the same time, Trump also defended his then-secretar y of Labour Alex Acosta, who as US attorney in Miami in 2008 had negotiated a sweetheart plea deal for Epstein. The billionaire financier avoided a federal trial and served just 13 months aft er h e admitt ed procuring teenagers for prostitution.
In a meeting with around 30 Epstein victims yesterday the US
Department of Justice said Acosta had “exercised poor judgment in cutting the deal.
However, the victims were also told that he had not broken the law or engaged in misconduct.
Acosta resigned as Labour Secretary last year amid fury over the deal.
Epstein died in jail in August last year aged 66 awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges. Maxwell, 58, is in jail charged with helping Epstein groom and abuse three girls aged 18 and under. She has denied the charges and is due for trial next year.