It was too early to decide if the settlement protected him
Num tribunal federal de Nova Iorque, uma juíza deu luz verde ao processo civil de Virginia Giuffre contra o príncipe André, recusando o pedido de arquivamento apresentado pela defesa do duque de Iorque. A decisão do juiz Lewis Kaplan não resolve a questão de fundo — se um acordo de 2009 entre Giuffre e Jeffrey Epstein protege ou não o príncipe —, mas determina que essa resposta pertence ao julgamento e não a uma fase preliminar. Assim, uma mulher que alega ter sido abusada sexualmente e traficada aos 17 anos avança no seu caminho em busca de responsabilização, enquanto um membro da família real britânica se vê obrigado a enfrentar, em tribunal, acusações que há anos procura afastar.
- O príncipe André tentou encerrar o processo antes de chegar a julgamento, argumentando que um acordo assinado em 2009 entre Giuffre e Epstein o isentava de qualquer responsabilidade — o juiz recusou esse argumento por considerá-lo prematuro.
- Virginia Giuffre alega que foi abusada sexualmente pelo duque de Iorque quando tinha 17 anos, em locais que incluem a residência londrina de Ghislaine Maxwell e propriedades de Epstein nos Estados Unidos.
- A defesa de André descreve o processo como infundado e motivado por compensação financeira, enquanto o advogado de Giuffre insiste que a linguagem do acordo de 2009 não pode proteger o príncipe.
- André, que em 2019 deu uma entrevista à BBC amplamente criticada e que o levou a afastar-se das funções reais, nega todas as acusações e afirma ter estado noutro local na noite em questão.
- O caso segue agora para julgamento, previsto entre setembro e dezembro de 2022, onde Giuffre poderá obter uma indemnização financeira — embora nenhuma acusação criminal seja possível neste processo civil.
Um juiz federal em Nova Iorque rejeitou esta semana o pedido do príncipe André para arquivar o processo civil que Virginia Giuffre move contra ele. A decisão do juiz Lewis Kaplan significa que o duque de Iorque terá de responder em tribunal pelas alegações de que abusou sexualmente de Giuffre quando ela tinha 17 anos, em locais nos Estados Unidos e no Reino Unido, e de que foi cúmplice no seu tráfico pelo financeiro Jeffrey Epstein.
Giuffre, também conhecida como Virginia Roberts, apresentou a queixa em Nova Iorque em 2021. Alega que o terceiro filho da rainha Isabel II a agrediu sexualmente e a coagiu a relações sexuais na casa londrina de Ghislaine Maxwell, socialite britânica e associada de Epstein. Maxwell foi condenada no final do ano passado por tráfico sexual e crimes conexos. Epstein morreu numa cela em Manhattan em 2019, enquanto aguardava julgamento por crimes de abuso sexual.
A defesa de André centrou o seu pedido de arquivamento num acordo celebrado em 2009 entre Giuffre e Epstein, argumentando que esse documento isentava de responsabilidade qualquer pessoa que pudesse ter sido chamada ao processo. O juiz Kaplan considerou que determinar o alcance e a intenção desse acordo era uma questão para o julgamento, e não para uma fase preliminar.
O príncipe, que tem 61 anos, nega as acusações. Numa entrevista à BBC em novembro de 2019 — amplamente criticada por não responder às questões centrais do caso —, afirmou que não poderia ter estado com Giuffre na noite em causa porque regressara a casa depois de uma festa infantil com uma das filhas. Dias após a entrevista, afastou-se das suas funções oficiais na família real britânica.
O processo segue agora para julgamento, previsto para ocorrer entre setembro e dezembro de 2022. Se Giuffre vencer, André poderá ser condenado a pagar uma indemnização cujo valor não foi divulgado. Nenhuma acusação criminal pode resultar deste processo civil. Especialistas em direito sublinham que o estatuto real não confere ao príncipe qualquer imunidade jurídica nesta matéria.
A federal judge in New York has cleared the way for Virginia Giuffre's civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew to move forward, rejecting the royal's attempt to have the case dismissed before trial. Judge Lewis Kaplan's decision on Wednesday means the Duke of York will face allegations that he sexually abused Giuffre when she was 17 years old, in locations spanning the United States and the United Kingdom, and that he was complicit in her trafficking by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Giuffre, also known as Virginia Roberts, filed her lawsuit in New York in 2021. She alleges that the third son of Queen Elizabeth II assaulted her sexually and coerced her into sexual relations at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite and associate of Epstein. The allegations extend to Epstein's properties in the United States as well. Epstein, a former teacher turned financier, was found dead in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 at age 66 while awaiting trial on sexual abuse charges. Maxwell, 60, was convicted late last year of sex trafficking and related crimes.
Andrew's legal team has characterized the lawsuit as baseless and suggested that Giuffre is pursuing it solely for financial compensation. Their central argument rests on a 2009 settlement agreement between Giuffre and Epstein. That agreement, they contend, released Andrew from any liability by stipulating that any person or entity who could have been named as a defendant in connection with Giuffre's claims was exempt from responsibility. On January 4th, Andrew's lawyers asked Judge Kaplan to dismiss the case on precisely these grounds. The judge rejected that motion this week, determining that it was premature to decide whether the 2009 agreement actually protected Andrew, and that such questions were better resolved at trial rather than beforehand.
Andrew, now 61, has denied the allegations. In a BBC interview from November 2019, he stated that he could not have had sexual relations with a 17-year-old at Maxwell's home on the night in question because he had returned to his residence after attending a children's party with one of his daughters. That interview, widely criticized for failing to address key aspects of Giuffre's claims, damaged his public standing considerably. Within days of its broadcast, Andrew stepped back from his official duties as a member of the British royal family.
Giuffre's attorney, David Boies, has argued that the language in the 2009 settlement with Epstein is irrelevant to protecting Andrew from liability. Judge Kaplan agreed that determining the agreement's scope and intent was a matter for the trial itself, not for preliminary dismissal. The judge noted that it was too early to assess whether Giuffre and Epstein had intended the settlement to shield Andrew from responsibility.
The litigation remains in its early stages. Kaplan's ruling keeps the case on track toward a potential trial scheduled to begin sometime between September and December of this year. If Giuffre prevails, Andrew could be ordered to pay her financial damages, though the amount she is seeking has not been disclosed. No criminal charges are possible from this civil action; Andrew has not been criminally accused, and no criminal prosecution can result from a civil lawsuit.
The prince's royal status offers him no legal protection in this matter. While diplomats sometimes enjoy certain immunities in countries where they are stationed, and while heads of state like Andrew's mother have limited immunity, Andrew does not fall into either category, according to Craig Barker, a law professor at London South Bank University. "There is nothing in the law that suggests he has any right to immunity, whether in civil or criminal matters," Barker said.
Federal prosecutors in the United States have sought to interview Andrew about their ongoing investigation into Epstein's sex trafficking operation. According to Geoffrey Berman, the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Andrew has consistently refused such requests. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment on Kaplan's decision this week, leaving unclear whether prosecutors still wish to speak with the prince. Notably, Giuffre did not testify in the criminal trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, and her allegations formed no basis for any of the six sexual abuse charges on which Maxwell was convicted.
Notable Quotes
There is nothing in the law that suggests he has any right to immunity, whether in civil or criminal matters.— Craig Barker, law professor at London South Bank University
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why did the judge refuse to dismiss this case when Andrew's lawyers argued the 2009 settlement protected him?
Kaplan said it was too early to decide. The settlement's language is ambiguous—it says anyone who could have been included as a defendant is exempt, but whether that actually covers Andrew depends on what Giuffre and Epstein intended at the time. That's a question for trial, not for dismissal.
So Andrew is essentially betting that a jury will believe the settlement covers him?
Exactly. His lawyers have to prove it at trial. But first they have to get past the fact that Giuffre's attorney argues the settlement language doesn't apply to him at all. It's a credibility and interpretation battle.
What happens if Giuffre wins?
Andrew pays damages. The amount isn't public yet. But there's no criminal consequence—this is civil only. He won't go to jail.
Does his royal status protect him in any way?
No. He's not a diplomat with immunity, and he's not a head of state. He's just a British citizen being sued in American court.
Why did his BBC interview in 2019 matter so much?
He tried to deny the allegations but did it poorly—critics said he dodged the hard questions. Days later he withdrew from public royal duties. The damage to his reputation was immediate and lasting.
Is there any chance prosecutors will charge him criminally?
Not from this civil case. But federal prosecutors have been investigating Epstein's trafficking network and wanted to interview Andrew. He refused. Whether they'll pursue anything separately remains unclear.