Lawyers For Ghislaine Maxwell's Victims Have Something To Say About Prince Andrew
The victims of Jeffrey Epstein received some justice when his girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, was sentenced to serve 20 years in federal prison for sex trafficking girls with him. Per People, the Associated Press obtained a court filing in which prosecutors described Maxwell as "shockingly predatory," adding, "She was a calculating, sophisticated, and dangerous criminal who preyed on vulnerable young girls and groomed them for sexual abuse."
One of the women to make a victim impact statement during Maxwell's trial was Virginia Giuffre, who went public with the abuse she allegedly suffered at the hands of both Epstein and Prince Andrew. She sued the royal, whom she accused of sexually assaulting her when she was only 17 years old in 2001, per the Daily Mail. Her accusations led to the prince being stripped of all his military titles and patronages, per Forbes.
Prince Andrew and Giuffre settled the lawsuit before it could go to trial for an undisclosed sum. "Prince Andrew intends to make a substantial donation to Ms. Giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights," the court filing said, per CNBC. "Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms. Giuffre's character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks."
But with Maxwell's trial behind them, many of Epstein's victims are now calling for the FBI to set its sights on Prince Andrew.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Attorneys want the FBI to investigate Prince Andrew
Lawyers for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell want the FBI to investigate Prince Andrew for his alleged role in sexually trafficking young girls. "Virginia Giuffre's civil case should be just the beginning. Everyone associated with Epstein and Maxwell should be carefully investigated," attorney Lisa Bloom said, per the Daily Mail. Attorney Spencer Kuvin added, "Obviously, Andrew is one of the targets they will be looking into. He should definitely be concerned, but... if he did nothing wrong, then come forward and tell the full story to the FBI, not the media."
In 2020, US investigators sent a Mutual Legal Assistance request to the British government, requesting that Prince Andrew provide evidence to the FBI under oath. As of publication, the U.K. Home Office has not commented on the status of the MLA.
While it remains to be seen if the FBI does launch an investigation into Prince Andrew, his stature in the British royal family is definitely in shambles. He has been vocal about getting his royal status back, but plans to attend the Order of the Garter service on June 13 were reportedly squashed by Prince Charles and Prince William. "His comeback fight is probably doomed," a source told The Sun. "He is delusional if he thinks Charles or William will ever let him back. The Queen is the only person who ever backs Andrew up."