Voice of America
27 Jan 2022, 21:35 GMT+10
NEW YORK - Prince Andrew's lawyers asked a U.S. court again Wednesday to throw out a lawsuit accusing him of sexual abuse, citing multiple legal defenses.
Among them: The lawyers said that if any sexual activity did occur between the prince and Virginia Giuffre, it was consensual.
The court filing made clear that Andrew wasn't admitting sexual contact with Giuffre. But it said if the case wasn't dismissed, the defense wants a trial in which it would argue that her abuse claims "are barred by the doctrine of consent."
Attorney David Boies, representing Giuffre, responded in a statement asserting Andrew "continues his approach of denying any knowledge or information concerning the claims against him, and purporting to blame the victim of the abuse for somehow bringing it on herself."
The defense request was filed in federal court in Manhattan, where Giuffre sued Andrew in August. The American accused the British royal of sexually abusing her when she was 17 while she traveled with financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew has strenuously denied Giuffre's allegations and attempted to get the lawsuit tossed. Earlier this month, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rejected his attempt to win an early dismissal, allowing depositions and other evidence gathering by both parties to move forward.
Wednesday's response was filed by Los Angeles attorneys Andrew Brettler and Melissa Lerner. They say the suit should also be dismissed on several other grounds, arguing the civil litigation against the prince should be barred because Giuffre is a permanent resident of Australia and bound by a settlement between Epstein and Giuffre.
Giuffre asserted that she met Andrew while she traveled frequently with Epstein between 2000 and 2002, when her lawyers maintain she was "on call for Epstein for sexual purposes" and was "lent out to other powerful men," including Andrew. Her lawsuit said she still suffers significant emotional and psychological distress and harm.
In the wake of the judge's decision earlier in January, Prince Andrew - who had already stepped back from royal duties - was stripped of his honorary military titles.
Epstein, 66, took his own life in a Manhattan federal lockup in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. Giuffre has also leveled allegations at Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's longtime companion, but was not part of the criminal case that ended recently with Maxwell's conviction on sex trafficking charges.
The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they choose to come forward publicly, as Giuffre has.
Get a daily dose of San Diego Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to San Diego Sun.
More InformationSAN FRANCISCO, California: In a letter released this week, the archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, said U.S. House Speaker ...
SACRAMENTO, California: In another blow to the state's push to diversify corporate leadership, a California court judge has ruled that ...
Christianity is often regarded as a staunch opponent of veganism - after all, most Christian denominations are highly carnivorous in ...
The NFL scouting combine will remain in Indianapolis through at least 2024. The NFL made the announcement on Tuesday during ...
The Milwaukee Brewers will be without All-Star closer Josh Hader as they continue their three-game series in San Diego. Hader ...
Washington [US], May 24 (ANI): Hollywood star Woody Harrelson's latest movie, 'Triangle of Sadness', recently received an impressive eight-minute standing ...
MOSCOW, Russia: McDonald's has announced that it will sell all its branches in Russia to one of its local licensees, ...
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - The euro has jumped above 1.0700 in Asian trading Tuesday, but stocks have fallen sharply.The run ...
MILAN, Italy: Netflix and Italy have agreed to a $59 million settlement to to settle a four-year tax dispute, Milan ...
LONDON, England: British consumers continued to shop as normal last month, despite the highest inflation rate in 40 years, with ...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks rocketed higher Monday, a rally ignited by a weakening of the U.S. dollar ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: Following baby formula shortages throughout the United States, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf has said that Abbott Laboratories and ...