The first time I covered Prince Andrew’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein was in 2015, when Virginia Roberts (now Virginia Giuffre) filed a civil lawsuit naming Andrew as one of the powerful, well-connected men to whom she was “given” by Epstein. Virginia Roberts has been telling her story – the same story – for years, and she’s been fighting in civil courts for years to be heard, to get Epstein punished for his crimes and to get Epstein’s co-conspirators charged too. She’s never deviated from her story. And now that Epstein and his crimes are back in the news, Virginia is still talking. Good for her.
At a hearing in a Manhattan court, more than 20 of Epstein’s victims gathered to tell their stories in some kind of victim-impact, on-the-record testimony. After the hearing, Virginia spoke to the media. While she sticks the knife into Andrew, I’m still stuck on the first part of her statement: “I was recruited at a very young age from Mar-a-Lago…” OH MY GOD.
#JeffreyEpstein survivor Virginia Giuffre, who delivered a profound statement in court this morning, said Price Andrew, Duke of York “knows exactly what he’s done” and implored him to come clean about his role in Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. pic.twitter.com/QPmQyPYiy5
— Molly Crane-Newman (@molcranenewman) August 27, 2019
Here’s what else she said:
An accuser of the financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Tuesday addressed her accusation that she was coerced into sex with Prince Andrew, saying the royal “knows what he’s done”. Virginia Giuffre had already alleged in 2011 testimony that Andrew “knows the truth” about Epstein’s abuse of underage girls and said he should be made to testify. In a December 2014 court filing she alleged that she was made to have sex with Andrew and other friends of Epstein.
On Tuesday, Giuffre spoke to reporters outside federal court in Manhattan. She was one of nearly two dozen women who spoke about alleged sexual abuse by Epstein during a unique court proceeding scheduled after the financier’s death in prison on 10 August, which was ruled a suicide. Epstein’s death at 66 brought an end to his criminal case but the judge gave accusers the opportunity to speak publicly.
“He knows what he’s done and he can attest to that,” Giuffre said about Prince Andrew, a video of the press conference showed. “He knows exactly what he’s done, and I hope he comes clean about it.”
Brad Edwards, a lawyer representing a number of Epstein accusers, said that “with respect to Prince Andrew or anyone else who made statements, gratuitous statements, if anyone wants to come over here and talk with us, and answer real questions that the victims have, and that we have on their behalf, we welcome that invitation. I personally extended that invitation to Prince Andrew multiple times. Any time, we are ready, and we have a lot of questions for him.”
Meanwhile, Prince Andrew keeps releasing new statements which make him seem guiltier and guiltier. His people let everyone know that he’s available to speak to the police about anything, but he has not offered up his availability for any of these civil cases. I hope Virginia drags him to hell.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
DAAAAAAAMNNNNNNN.
He will need a lot of church visits for this one.
To get advice from the church on how to bury a pedo scandal, I assume?
I’ve been wondering about the royals going to church. What is the point of it? I mean they are no longer chopping off heads,locking people in towers, plundering and murdering (as far as I know) but they are not what I would define as ‘good decent human beings’ so why go to church? Isn’t church all about doing the right thing, being ‘good’, love your neighbour and your brother (looking and you William), no cheating (more looks at you William) etc…I’d love to know what they do inside the church. Because what ever the minister is saying is surely falling on deaf ears.
Other commenters can correct me, but I think the Queen is the head of the Church of England. She has to go for appearances and it’s likely part of their duty.
I totally agree with you. I cannot stand those people who go to church and feel morally superior because they go to church but in their day to day lives don’t follow or try to follow the teachings of whichever religion they practice.
I mean, they have been taught they are the ones chosen by God. That God chose them to rule in his name and the Queen is the head of the church and his representative. I am sure they have a very entitled view of religion and God and it comes down to the belief that they are special and chosen.
The Queen is suppose to be a really religious woman.
@intheknow – The Queen is the head of the church and The Defender of The Faith. And all members married into the immediate family do have to be baptised in the faith (Meghan was baptised a few days before her wedding to Prince Harry). I do remember Prince Charles causing a kerfuffle when he declared himself to be the Defender of The FAITHS).
Going to church for them,like so many is all about optics.They don’t go to learn or to be filled with knowledge or spiritual direction they go because they believe they are morally superior and that just the going aspect of going to church is what it’s about.They are missing the point,and they don’t care.And yes they believe they have a God given place as the head of the church.
I totally agree Lola. I call those people “fake Christians”. My next door neighbors are that way. All pious and judging everyone else and used to attend church three times a week, but are terrible neighbors and only out for what’s in it for them and benefits them.
LOL @ attending church having anything to do with being “good” people. LOLOLOLOLOLOL.
Hasn’t been that way since pretty much evar. Church people never seem to actually engage/follow what their so called religion says. See Also: Lori L (aka Aunt Becky)
This is on the whole royal family, Just like pedo priests are on the Catholic Church. I mean- the British secret serves would have have briefed the Queen, and still he received a lavish lifestyle on taxpayer dollars. No. This was collusive.
Some chick is right. That hasn’t been the case, like, ever.
No, I mean going to Church as a PR game to seem like the good Christian Prince of high morals. Maybe this time he will have daddy sitting opposite of where mummy sits.
Pretty sure his daddy is dead. (It’s not Prince Philly! Porchy Who?!)
No need. Good servant Boris is right here to help out. People will forget about Andrew the pervert and criminal when Boris with a little help from the Queen bulldozes over the democracy and unleashes the chaos that is Brexit. People will not have the time or the energy to care about this.
Beautiful. Go, girl. You keep talking, Virginia. We are listening.
Yes we are!!!
YES! (insert meryl streep/ljo pointing gif)
Yes.
I believe her.
Please don’t let this get buried away.
YES!! And the Mar-A-Lago part!!! I don’t want that buried either!
Yes, we are. I don’t doubt her recollection of events for one second. I don’t know anyone who does.
His lawyers are now trying to suggest that that photo was doctored. It’s absurd.
Not gonna fly from his legal team as he is previously on record saying the photo was innocent – he’s pulling a Trump, deny deny deny even in the face of the facts. Crying photoshop is a bit late in the day – NO ONE is buying it esp as I say he has admitted to agree to pose for the photo. He’s a cornered rat who knows its only a matter of time before evidence comes out showing him engaging in sexual conduct with her and/or other girls.
As Virginia says he knows what he did and he needs to come clean. Its obvious Mummy can’t make this go away fatboy.
They are using the typical abuser tactic of gaslighting. Pathetic.
Apparently his friends are casting doubt on the photo with Virginia saying his fingers are much chubbier. That follows the he’s had 1000 lovers but no teenagers. They are the worse at this.
I hope he continues to be pressed about Virginia’s claims.
I have seen that photo floating around for several years as Virginia tried to tell her story. And now these “friends” want to talk about finger size? Sounds like they are truly grasping.
AHAHA. Christ.
You know you’ve got some great friends when they’re using your sausage fingers as an excuse *eyeroll*.
@Erinn +1 With friends like that, he doesn’t need enemies.
His legal team are demanding to see the original as Prince Porky is denying any recollection of it being taken and he’s copying Dump by scream ‘witch hunt’ and as we all know that witch hunt found an awful lot of witches.
I personally feel that Andrew will be forced to confess all, the evidence being leaked to by the media is backing him into a corner and he is doing what all other cornered liars do when caught out, lie even more and badly. Mummy isn’t going to make this go away and I think for the first time in his indulged life Andrew will be made to take responsibility for his actions. The more pathetic protests me makes the more guilty he looks.
Right, it’s straight out of the Trump playbook. Any inconvenient truth is fake news.
The Fail just disproved the chubby fingers defence and published pictures of Andy earlier the same evening wearing the same outfit.
His goose is cooked, as his inability to explain the existence of that photo casts serious dispersion’s on his character.
The man should go to trial.
Yeah and why isn’t he? That is a genuine question? Epstein is dead and he may have been the main party behind all of this but these men willingly took part.
I’m surprised all the other dirt on Andrew isn’t coming up. Like his special friends Gaddafi and sons.
Well done Virginia. She’s incredibly brave ❤
Yes!! Keep digging!
The Mar-a-Lago connection is… not surprising. DT is way more involved than we think, imo.
I believe so too.
She was working there as a masseuse (because she lived in Florida) when Ghislaine Maxwell approached her and told her if she would work privately for one of her clients she’d make a lot more money. It’s in every single news article/story that has come out since this whole thing broke. The connection doesn’t run much deeper, as all the articles show.
@Dani, an underage masseuse at Mar-a-Lago? Or really, an underage masseuse anywhere? I could be wrong (it wouldn’t be the first time) but my BS detector is going off.
She wanted to be a massage therapist and was 17 years old at the time, working toward schooling. In fact, one of the things Epstein promised her was an education in massage therapy. What’s even sadder, she wanted that education as a means of being able to support herself when she finally escaped him. Luckily she met her current husband while on some tropical island with Maxwell and Epstein and she escaped with him.
This woman has been through so much it’s crazy. I love how strong she is!
@styla, thank you for this!
Plainjane – it’s wrong any way you slice it but she was simply working at Mar A Lago, and she hasn’t said anything else about that place besides being picked up there. I’m not a Trump supporter or apologizer or what have you, but that’s literally just the fact. She’s very clearly coming after pedo Andrew (which she should).
Dani, I was trying to support you on this, hopefully that came through! I don’t think the Trump “connection” is much of a connection at all either. That said, I’m sure he has his own brush with underage girls just not this time.
Unfortunately he’ll get off like all the other slime balls. Bill, trump, Dershowitz and who knows who.
Andy does have to live w a tarnished name forever . But that’s not punishment enough.
I think you’re right. He will get off.
with my ear to the ground, I suggest: he’s damned in the court of public opinion, whatever happens & that’s a big problem for the family.
I hope the prince and the madam end up being heavily interrogated. Virginia and others have been telling their story for years.
The attorney’s comments are spot on. Andrew should stop claiming he will cooperate and actually do it. Hop a plane and go to New York. If Mummy won’t join you, I’m sure Sarah will be game for the shopping trip. Maybe she can answer a few questions, too.
Where is the madam? Why hasn’t she been arrested yet?
Do the royals have to follow laws????? Are they above going to trial??? Genuine question!!
They should not be,(above the law)but so far I’ve seen nothing to suggest any of them have to answer to anyone.Prince pedophile will most probably skate.He and his ex wife have awful reputations and doesn’t seem to bother either one,no shame.Literally disgusting humans.
There was a comment by Jaded on another post that indicated Andy’s reputation was the only thing at stake for his crimes and as far as the law is concerned he had diplomatic immunity.
That is BS!!!! The monarchy needs to go away… no person should be above the law no matter how connected and powerful. Makes my blood boil! Ugh
I think the diplomatic immunity was due to his position at the time (trade commissioner?) rather than his royal status. Regardless, anyone who is found guilty of committing a crime should face the consequences and not be able to hide behind a shield.
That’s my question too. Apparently, in England as well as Scotland and Wales, its a no. I remember a TV program filmed back in the Sixties showing Princess Anne flying down some English expressway in her sports car to get to her meeting at some Royal place because her staff was waiting . She was way past the speed limit. It was kinda jokingly mentioned “who is going to arrest her, she’s the Queens daughter”.This around her very late teens or around early twenties.
It’s a weak analogy, but it is a window into how they think. “Who would arrest me? “
Criminal charges have to be laid before anyone goes to trial, and anyone who is charged and goes to trial is innocent until proven guilty.
Btw, did anyone else notice the Fail had a headline about one of the victims having gone to school with Kate? That seemed intentional methinks to get another royal name associated with the Epstein scandal.
This all does seem rather witch hunt-y.
Andrea is a boy’s name in Italian. In English, the name Andrea is Andrew.
So, @Andrea, you think that this is a witch hunt?
Interessante.
Witch hunt? That’s not at all what I’m saying.
Was that the model who was in a relationship with the Hoff? I saw it briefly.
I came across a really funny article a while back on Andrew from 2017. It’s not actually meant to be funny, it just is because of the way it describes Andrew as an inept clod. The funniest part is at the beginning, an anecdote how Andrew walked into a room one morning expecting everyone to stand up for him, and when no one did, he said, “Let’s try this again” and walked out and in again. No one stood up the second time either. Such a dolt.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/prince-andrews-desperate-search-for-a-royal-purpose?ref=scroll
He is just terrifying to look at when he smiles. It’s like he is baring his fangs.
That’s a great article, thanks. The idea that he expects people to stand when he comes into a room? Hilarious. Also it seems that Charles has no delusions about Andy and really will cut him off when Charles becomes king.
This is a really interesting article – thanks!
My mom said the press used to call him Randy Andy in his youth. I believe every word, Virginia
He was known by that name during the 1980s tabloid days. He was actually portrayed as a swinging bachelor, as was Albert of Monaco.
Those who remember supermarket checkout headlines of those days remember Koo, Fergie and toe sucking photos.
Take him down Virginia! We believe you and we got your back!
I believe you, Virginia.
What’s astounding is that *anyone* believes this prince or that president.
Please British friends bring down the Monarchy, it’s about time.
YES! This is now getting too big to be buried!
Also, can anyone explain why Ghislaine Maxwell hasn’t been arrested yet?
Go Virginia, keep telling the truth. I stand with you.
On a purely superficial note, who is the cutie with the dark hair standing behind her in the top photo? Is that her husband or part of her legal team?
I believe his name is Brad Edwards (see last paragraph of quoted material from The Guardian) and he is part of the legal team representing some of the accusers.
Someone going to church doesn’t make them a Christian anymore than someone standing in a garage makes them a car.
If someone talks the talk they should walk the walk.
You stated that perfectly 👍
Uh oh. The Royal Reporter dude on Twitter is saying Andrew now claiming the photo of him with Virginia is a fake and they never met.
What a dick Andrew is.
This is an outright lie as he’s said in the past that it was an innocent photo, his lawyers are demanding to see the original as they are trying to claim ‘photoshop’, the Fail has an interesting story that they has been pinned to the top of their homepage since early evening yesterday – they have more sh!t on him and are baiting him at this point.
Sky News has also released an interview with Virginia’s lawyer who says they are looking into legal action but stressed its not their preferred option but will do it if Andrew won’t talk to them.
There is clearly more stuff about to drop about Andrew. I don’t think this scandal will end the Monarchy but it will several damage it and may force TQ to abdicate esp if it becomes obvious she used her position to cover up her sons perversions. Charles will have to clean up the mess. I can see Andrew pressuring Beatrice to marry now before he is stripped of his royal status, esp if he is successfully sued by Virginia.
It occurred to me that in all this mess, Prince Andrew’s is the one Epstein associate that regularly crops up. Clinton and Trump to some extent, but the focus is most definitely on Andrew.
The original proceedings also heavily mentioned him, so his defence that he knew nothing of Epstein’s ‘lifestyle’ is just odd. Everything seems to point to the fact that Andrew has zero defence for the inconsistencies in his story.
Also notice how the media play with him, they release a photo or a video and BP or ‘friends’ comment. Then then release another one disproving that comment. Also notice that Andrew has not commented on the photo with himself and Virginia in over 10 years, until now.
All the above indicates that the media have a shit load of evidence on him and it’s damming. It is literally a battle of the wills between the media and Andy. This makes me think he severely upset someone high up, maybe in trying to save himself. If the powers that be can ‘help’ Epstein have the means and opportunity to take his own life, then they could easily have made Andy’s troubles go away.
I agree, the press have always had it and have been sitting on it. Remember Maxwell’s father was very well connected with the UK media and maybe she is throwing Andy under the bus to protect herself. The press are pretty much ignoring her at this point.
@Digital Unicorn also don’t forget that Epstein’s trial was just after the time when News International was first caught ‘hacking’ the phones of celebs, criminals and the Royals.
To give you a brief synopsis of the timeline:
2005 – 2006: Prince William realises that he is being hacked and an investigation begins into the hacking of confidential communications of the Royals.
2005: Epstein is also under investigation for the first time in Florida. The private investigators working for News International would have known of his links to Andy and likely paid particular attention to communications between the two. After that Andy would have been on their radar. As UK Trade Envoy there would have been legitimate reasons to be focused on him and for journalist to be around him.
I can only imagine the amount of evidence they had amassed on Andy in the preceding years and during that particularly important trail period including possibly communications between Epstein and the authorities.
In fact a few years later the FBI launched an investigation into News International to determine whether they had hacked into FBI communications after 9/11.
The above leads me to believe that they know EVERYTHING and that this will never go away.