Prince Andrew asks judge to toss sex abuse lawsuit, says accuser was above New York age of consent

Prince Andrew requested the judge to dismiss the civil lawsuit filed against him by a woman who claimed that she was sexually abused by the prince when she was just 17 years of age. She also accused the prince of continuing the activity at Jeffrey Epstein’s NY home, U.S. Virginia Island, as well as in London.

Prince Andrew, the younger brother of Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II’s son, was served with the sexual abuse lawsuit in August by Virginia Giuffre’s lawyers. Guiffre filed the civil case under the ‘New York Child Victims Act’ passed in 2019. This Act allowed victims of sexual abuse to sue their abusers if the abuse happened when they were younger than 18.

Lawyers of Price Andrew argued in a motion on Monday that the ‘NY Child Abuse Act’ is unconstitutional as it temporarily allowed victims. However, the constitutional age of consent in New York is seventeen. Giuffre’s claims are invalid in the light of the consenting age set by the state laws as she said she was 17 when the unproven abuse took place.

“The [Child Victims’ Act] revives claims for those who allegedly suffered harm as a result of certain sexual offenses they claim were committed against them when they were under the age of eighteen, even though the age of consent in New York is seventeen,” the attorneys wrote.

The attorneys also argued in the motion that Giuffre must show the lack of consent through proving ‘implies threat’. And bring in front any third party that should testify the alleged abuse. 

“Here, the only witnesses to the purported implied threats under which Giuffre allegedly engaged in unconsented sex acts with Prince Andrew are Epstein (deceased), Maxwell (incarcerated), Prince Andrew (the accused), and Giuffre herself,” Prince Andrew’s attorneys wrote.

Jeffery Epstein murdered himself in August 2019 when he was behind the bars of Manhattan jail. The incident happened just after a month when he was charged with sexual abuse and sex trafficking convictions.

Ghislaine Maxwell, who was Epstein’s ex-girlfriend and Prince Andrew’s friend is on trial in NY currently. Several women declared that Maxwell prepared and groomed them to be sexually abused by Epstein when they were young.

This photo is included in the lawsuit against Prince Andrew which allegedly shows that the Prince’s arm around her waist depicts his intentions. Virginia Giuffre also accuses in the suit that she was paid by Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with the Queen’s son.

The suit in August filed by Guiffre, claims that she is holding him “accountable for everything he did to her”.

“The powerful and rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions. I hope that other victims will see that it is possible not to live in silence and fear, but to reclaim one’s life by speaking out and demanding justice,” The victim said in a statement during filing the case.

According to the lawsuit, the victim is seeking punitive and compensatory damages. It states that she “feared death or physical injury to herself or another and other repercussions for disobeying” Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew because of their “powerful connections, wealth, and authority.”

The suit also says that Prince Andrew knew that the victim was 17 years old, but he didn’t hold himself and abused Guiffre “for the purpose of gratifying his sexual desires” multiple times.

On the other hand, Prince Andrew holds the right to deny every allegation he’s having against him. He reportedly stated to BBC in an interview given in 2019 that he has “no recollection” of meeting Guiffre ever.

“I can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened,” Andrew added.