Prince Andrew Speaks Out About Sexual Assault Allegations, Demands A Trial Jury
Prince Andrew's legal team filed court documents regarding his sexual assault trial, in which Virginia Roberts sued the royal for allegedly raping her when she was 17 years old.
In the documents, he stated that he "hereby demands a trial by jury on all causes of action asserted in the complaint."
“Assuming, without admitting, that Giuffre has suffered any injury or damage, Giuffre and/or others, who are not Prince Andrew, contributed in whole or in part to the alleged damage," the documents read, adding that her "claims are barred by the doctrine of consent" and are “barred in whole or in part by her own wrongful conduct and the doctrine of unclean hands.”
The Duke says he "lacks sufficient information to admit or deny" most of Roberts' allegations, and he said he did not "sexually abuse" or "rape" her when she was underage.
But Andrew did he admit that he was friends with late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein but was never close with convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell.
The dad-of-two denied that he was “a frequent guest in Epstein’s various homes around the world, including New York City where he sexually abused Plaintiff (Giuffre) at Epstein and Maxwell’s invitation when she was a minor."
Journalist Lucia Osborne-Crowley reacted to the news, writing, "Prince Andrew has demand a jury trial in his sexual abuse case brought by Virginia Giuffre, according to a letter filed by his lawyer Andrew Brettler to Judge Lewis Kaplan. #PrinceAndrew #PrinceAndrewTrial #GhislaineMaxwellTrial."
She continued, "The letter also responds to the allegations by Virginia Giuffre, but most of the statements are repeats of the following: 'Prince Andrew lacks sufficient information to admit or deny the allegations contained in paragraph one of the Complaint' and so on and so #PrinceAndrew."
Andrew tried to get the case thrown out, as Roberts doesn't currently live in the U.S., but a U.S. judge dismissed the request.
The trial is set to occur later this year.