Court documents from a civil lawsuit, unsealed in New York, allege that Britain’s Prince Andrew placed his hand on a woman’s breast at Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse in 2001. The woman, previously reported as a victim of Epstein, detailed the incident, contradicting Andrew’s denial of these allegations.
The documents, recently unsealed, shed light on previously redacted information surrounding Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking activities. While a few new details emerged, further unsealing of documents is anticipated in the following days.
Attempts to reach Prince Andrew for comment immediately were unsuccessful, and he has consistently refuted the accusations made against him.
Epstein, known for socialising with influential figures before pleading guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008, passed away in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
Virginia Giuffre, a prominent accuser of Epstein, filed a lawsuit that had previously kept over 150 names under seal. A federal judge recently ruled that there was no legal reason to withhold these names from the public.
Giuffre’s deposition included claims of involvement with several politicians and financial leaders, naming individuals such as hedge-fund owner Glenn Dubin, businessman Tom Pritzker, and the late New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, among others.
Sigrid McCawley, Giuffre’s attorney, highlighted that despite this unsealing, some unanswered questions persist regarding those who facilitated Epstein’s actions.
Separately, Johanna Sjoberg, another Epstein accuser, alleged that Prince Andrew placed his hand on her breast for a photo with Epstein, Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend. This claim was previously reported in 2020.
Prince Andrew’s association with Epstein led to the stripping of most of his royal titles. He settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre in 2022 but continues to deny any wrongdoing.
The unsealing of these documents comes from a defamation lawsuit Giuffre filed against Maxwell. Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in Epstein’s crimes, is appealing her conviction. Despite the unveiling, some names remain confidential, particularly those who were underage when abused by Epstein.
