Still hope for Andrew, says lawyer, after Giuffre ‘error’
THE Duke of York could still make a comeback after his accuser backed down on a sexual abuse claim, his friend and legal adviser has claimed.
Lawyer Paul Tweed said Virginia Giuffre’s “extraordinary” admission that she “may have made a mistake” in accusing lawyer Alan Dershowitz of abusing her as a teenager prompted questions over her credibility.
It also called into question the Duke’s entire legal strategy, he said, suggesting that he should have stood his ground and let “the facts come out” rather than agreeing to a hefty financial settlement which many interpreted as guilt.
Asked whether the development could help Prince Andrew save his reputation, Mr Tweed told The Telegraph: “I wouldn’t slam all doors just yet. The battle has moved from the court of law to the court of public opinion.”
Ms Giuffre launched legal proceedings against the Duke last August, alleging that he had sexually abused or raped her on three separate occasions in 2001, when she was 17.
Mr Tweed said an early decision not to engage with her lawyers put him on the backfoot, creating a scenario in which her team was calling the shots.
“I would have handled it completely differently,” he said. “It started off with ‘never complain, never explain.’ That’s fine if you stick to that, but they didn’t.
“Then every time something happened, a reactive statement came out and that is never satisfactory in terms of public opinion.”
He added: “You’ve got to get the facts out there. You’ve got to take the initiative and put them out there clearly, on your terms and that didn’t happen.”
A similar view was expressed last year by royal courtiers, who feared the
‘I wouldn’t slam all doors shut. The battle has moved from the court of law to the court of public opinion’
Duke’s “wall of silence” was increasingly damaging the monarchy.
The Duke, who denied any wrongdoing, was determined to take the civil case to trial and clear his name.
But Buckingham Palace urged him to settle as the claims threatened to overshadow Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Mr Tweed branded Ms Giuffre’s statement on the Dershowitz case “incredible”.
“For her to admit she may have made a mistake – and it’s an extremely serious allegation – is extraordinary,” he added.