Prince Andrew must testify under oath about his role in the Jeffrey Epstein abuse scandal so that he faces the threat of prison if he lies, a lawyer for several of Epstein’s victims has said.
Amid growing calls for a police investigation into allegations of sexual assault against the royal, Spencer Kuvin, a Florida-based attorney, told the Observer that the Duke of York “needs to answer for what is now coming out” and should give his account with “all the trappings of the law” so that he is legally obliged to tell the truth.
He said: “I know Andrew has given an interview to the public and the media. It was a disastrous interview that went horribly for him. But he needs to answer for what is now coming out and … his role in all of this.
He needs to do it, not in a TV press interview, but under oath, under penalty of perjury, with all the trappings of the law whether it be in London or the US. He needs to set the record straight.”
The call comes after Andrew was mentioned repeatedly in documents made public by a US court. They relate to a civil case brought in 2015 by Virginia Giuffre, who says she was used as a “sex slave” by Epstein and his former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. Giuffre sued Maxwell over statements calling her a liar.
Documents from the long-settled case include claims that Andrew would stay for weeks at a time at the Palm Beach mansion owned by Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial for trafficking charges.
Juan Alessi, who worked as a housekeeper for Epstein from 1990 to 2002, also testified that Andrew would receive daily massages while staying with the financier, the court files show. The testimony of Johanna Sjoberg, who claims to have been abused by Epstein, which was also released, includes a resurfaced allegation that the prince “put his hand on my breast” at Epstein’s New York apartment in 2001.
Andrew previously settled a case with Giuffre over claims he sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17. The prince, who stepped back as a working royal in 2019, has consistently denied all claims of wrongdoing.
The newest batch of files raises fresh questions about the prince’s conduct and friendship with Epstein, which dates back to 1999. They also point to discrepancies between Andrew’s account and that of Maxwell, who the prince previously said introduced him to Epstein. In her testimony, the British socialite claims she “never introduced” the pair.Kuvin, who said he currently represents four Epstein victims, said it was now time for the prince to give his account, under oath, in order to set the record straight. “Alternatively he needs to disappear from the public eye out of sheer embarrassment for what’s come out,” Kuvin said.
The Metropolitan Police have been urged to investigate the resurfaced sexual assault claims against Andrew, with the anti-monarchy group Republic reporting him to the force last week. A Met spokesperson said the force had not opened an investigation but would review the situation “should new and relevant information” come to light. Buckingham Palace is yet to comment.
