Prince Andrew must testify under oath about his role in the Jeffrey Epstein abuse scandal to face jail time if he lies, a lawyer for several of Epstein's victims has said, the Guardian reported.
Amid growing calls for a police investigation into sexual abuse allegations against the royal family, Spencer Covin, a Florida lawyer, said the Duke of York "must answer for what is now coming to light" and must testify with "all the trappings of law" so that he is legally bound to tell the truth.
Kuvin said: "I know Andrew gave an interview to the public and the media. It was a disastrous interview that went terribly for him. But he has to answer for what is now coming to light and ... for his role in everything that. He must do it, not in a televised press interview, but under oath, under penalty of perjury, with all the trappings of law, whether in London or in the United States. He must get the facts straight."
The call comes after Andrew was repeatedly mentioned in documents released by a US court. They relate to a civil lawsuit filed in 2015 by Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was used as a "sex slave" by Epstein and his ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. Giuffre is suing Maxwell over statements calling her a liar.
Documents from the long-closed case include allegations that Andrew stayed for weeks at a time at the Palm Beach mansion owned by Epstein, who died in 2019, while awaiting trial on human trafficking charges.
Juan Alessi, who worked as Epstein's butler from 1990 to 2002, also testified that Andrew received daily massages while staying with the financier, court documents show. Testimony from Johanna Sjoberg, who claims she was abused by Epstein, which has also been released, includes a resurfaced claim that the prince put his hand on her breast in Epstein's New York apartment in 2001.
Andrew previously settled a lawsuit with Juffer over allegations he sexually assaulted her three times when she was 17. The prince, who stepped down as a working royal employee in 2019, has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
The latest batch of files raises new questions about the prince's conduct and his friendship with Epstein, which dates back to 1999. They also point to inconsistencies between Andrew's account and that of Maxwell, whom the prince previously said he met with Epstein. In her testimony, the British socialite claimed she had "never met" the couple. Covin, who said he is currently representing four of Epstein's victims, said it was now time for the prince to give his account under oath to clarify the situation . "Possibly, he should disappear from public view because he is ashamed of what has come to light," said the lawyer./BGNES
