Prince Andrew’s sexual assault accuser agreed not to sue “other potential defendants” related to Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sex crimes, according to a secret deal released Monday that the royal hopes will convince a US judge to dismiss a lawsuit against him.
The once-confidential document unveiled by a New York court shows that Virginia Giuffre agreed to drop her civil case against late disgraced money manager Epstein for $500,000 in 2009.
The 12-page settlement, made in Florida, contains a provision that claims to protect “other potential defendants” from being sued related to alleged sexual abuse committed by Epstein, who killed himself in jail in 2019.
The clause takes effect “from the beginning of the world to the day of this release,” according to the agreement.
Lawyers for Andrew argue that means Giuffre’s US lawsuit against the prince should be dismissed, however her attorneys insisted the agreement is “irrelevant” and her civil action against the prince must proceed.
Giuffre alleges that Epstein lent her out for sex with his wealthy and powerful associates, including Andrew, an allegation he has repeatedly and strenuously denied.
Her deal with Epstein says she will “forever discharge” any “other person or entity who could have been included as a potential defendant.”
Lawyers for Queen Elizabeth II’s second son will cite the agreement during oral arguments on Tuesday when they will urge judge Lewis Kaplan to throw out the case.
Giuffre has sued the British royal for unspecified damages, alleging being sexually assaulted when she was 17 and a minor under US law.
The 61-year-old Andrew has not been criminally charged.
Giuffre’s lawyer David Boies said in a statement that Andrew could not be protected by the agreement because he “did not even know about it” at the time. “The release is irrelevant to Ms Giuffre’s claim against Prince Andrew,” said Boies.
“He [Andrew] could not have been a ‘potential defendant’ in the settled case against Jeffrey Epstein both because he was not subject to jurisdiction in Florida and because the Florida case involved federal claims to which he was not a part.”
Giuffre says Prince Andrew assaulted her at Epstein’s home in New York, and on his private island in the US Virgin Islands.
Prince Andrew Photo: VCG
