allegation of abuse
Affidavit announced: Prince Andrew plans to break his silence in March
Prince Andrew wants to defend himself against Virginia Giuffre’s abuse allegations in a civil trial.
© Chris Jackson / DPA
Britain’s Prince Andrew will break his silence in March. He is being investigated for abuse, so far he has denied the allegations about his lawyers. On March 10, Prince Andrew will now comment on the facts in an affidavit.
As part of the civil case initiated by Virginia Roberts Giuffre against Prince Andrew, the prince will now make his own statement in the UK in early March. It is planned that the Duke of York will make an affidavit, a source close to the Duke tells CNN.
Virgina Roberts Giuffre has accused Prince Andrew of allegedly being forced into sexual activity with the prince when she was 17. The 38-year-old is using the “New York Child Victims Act”, a law passed in America since 2019 that extends the statute of limitations for sexual abuse.
Giuffre’s attorney, David Boies, issued a statement last month. He looks forward to confronting Prince Andrew. According to the plaintiff’s lawyer, Prince Andrew would try, through his denials and statements, to try to blame Ms. Giuffre for her abuse. The Daily Telegraph reports that the testimony is expected to last two days and will be conducted by lawyers for Boie and another of the plaintiff’s lawyers, Sigrid McCawley. The plaintiff’s lawyers are traveling from the USA to Great Britain for this purpose. The survey is to take place at a neutral location in London.
Prince Andrew can still avert the process against himself
A lawyer told the news broadcaster CNN in 2021 about the client’s motives for this procedure two decades after the incident. “The civil action should show that all abusers should be held accountable,” said the lawyer.
Prince Andrew has until July 14 to answer questions about the case in an affidavit. If it turns out that the case could be settled, he would be spared a trial scheduled for the fall. This is only possible if Prince Andrew could settle out of court with Virgina Roberts Guiffre beforehand.