The year 2021 was very hard for Queen Elizabeth II and for this 2022, things are not looking good at all, as a miracle would prevent Prince Andrew from taking a seat in the dock in the United States for an alleged crime of sexual abuse of Virgina Giuffre.
On Wednesday, January 12, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan refused to block the lawsuit of Giuffre, who has alleged that Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell forced her to maintain relations with the Duke of York.
Prince Andrew, 61, has denied the allegations and claimed a 2009 non-prosecution agreement between Epstein and Giuffre in Florida should absolve him of responsibility. He has said Giuffre is looking for a “payday at his expense.”
On Giuffre’s side, lawyer David Boise stated that the 2009 agreement should not apply to Prince Andrew, as it covered separate allegations.
“There is no allegation that Prince Andrew was the trafficker. He was a person who was trafficked by girls,” Boise said.
To prevent Prince Andrew from having a hard time in the dock and get rid of the trial, he has to reach a financial settlement with the plaintiff.
Although Giuffre’s lawyer, David Boies, has said his client is not taking the case for financial reasons, he just wants the Duke of York to be held accountable to justice.
Prince Andrew could be stripped of his title of Duke of York and face “internal exile” from the royal family if he loses the civil case.
The trial could begin between September and December 2022.
