In her lawsuit, Giuffre alleges that Prince Andrew sexually abused her at both Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s invitation when she was a minor and that instances of alleged sexual abuse occurred at Maxwell’s home in London and at Epstein’s home in Manhattan and on Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands.
“Prince Andrew committed sexual assault and battery upon Plaintiff when she was 17 years old. As such, Prince Andrew is responsible for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress pursuant to New York common law. The damage to Plaintiff has been severe and lasting,” the lawsuit states.
CNN has reached out to representatives for Prince Andrew for comment. CNN has also reached out to an attorney for Maxwell for comment on the allegations against her in the lawsuit.
Giuffre accuses Prince Andrew in the lawsuit of knowing her age and of knowing that she was a sex-trafficking victim being forced to engage in sexual acts with him. Giuffre said she feared disobeying Epstein, Maxwell and Prince Andrew “due to their powerful connections, wealth, and authority,” court documents state.
“To date Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation,” Berman said at the time.
Sigrid McCawley, an attorney for Giuffre, told CNN in a statement that “the filing of this complaint proves that irrespective of power, privilege or even being a prince, no one is above the law in the United States and all perpetrators of abuse should be held accountable.”
Giuffre is seeking damages “in an amount to be determined at trial,” as well as attorneys’ fees and other further relief “as the Court may deem just and proper,” according to the lawsuit.
CNN’s Amir Vera and Lauren Kent contributed to this report.
Source : Nbcnewyork