Prince Andrew’s lawyers want sexual-abuse suit dismissed because plaintiff was age of consent

BY ELISE BRISCO

Prince Andrew is asking a judge to dismiss a sexual-abuse lawsuit brought against him by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, saying the accuser was the age of consent at the time.

In her civil suit, Giuffre reiterates allegations she’s made publicly against Queen Elizabeth’s son since January 2015. She says the 61-year-old royal raped and sexually assaulted her after she was sex-trafficked to him at age 17 by Andrew’s former friend, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in 2019.

Andrew has vehemently denied all her accusations.

According to a memo filed Monday to the Southern District of New York, lawyers for Andrew say Giuffre’s claims are based on evidence that is “not a reasonable mechanism” to be used under the New York Child Victims Act, which allowed accusers to sue beyond the statute of limitations. Giuffre sued days before the act expired in August.

USA TODAY has reached out to Giuffre’s lawyer for further comment.

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Read more at https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/12/14/prince-andrew-says-sexual-abuse-accuser-old-enough-consent/8894102002/