Duke’s lawyers unseal Giuffre-epstein papers
PRINCE ANDREW’S lawyers will be able to access a settlement agreement reached between his accuser and Jeffrey Epstein that the Duke of York’s legal team believes could nullify the civil sexual assault case against him.
Andrew B Brettler, who represents the Duke, had argued at a previous hearing that Virginia Roberts Giuffre – who is suing the Queen’s son for alleged sexual assault – had entered into a “settlement agreement” that would end her current lawsuit.
Ms Giuffre’s lawyer David Boies was yesterday granted permission by Judge Loretta Preska to supply the Duke’s legal team with the previously sealed document, but the attorney believes it is “irrelevant to the case against Prince Andrew”.
During the first pre-trial hearing of the case last month, the Duke’s lawyer said: “There has been a settlement agreement that the plaintiff has entered into in a prior action that releases the Duke and others from any and all potential liability.” Mr Brettler was referring to the 2009 settlement between Ms Giuffre and Epstein, a convicted sex offender, in a Florida state case to which the Duke was not a party.
Ms Giuffre claims she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with the Duke when she was 17, a minor under US law. The Duke has denied all the allegations.
It came as it emerged that Sarah, Duchess of York, will avoid questions about the Duke at the Henley Literary Festival after the event asked its audience to submit questions for the Duchess in advance.
The Duchess, who will appear alongside her coauthor Marguerite Kaye, will speak to ticketholders about her Mills & Boon novel Her Heart for a Compass.
A source said: “She doesn’t shy away from questions on any subject, but this is a literary festival and the publishers are keen to keep the focus on the book.”
The Duchess did not ask for the measure, and has previously fielded a range of questions about the Royals.