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Ghislaine Maxwell opens up about “dear friend” Prince Andrew

<p dir="ltr"><em>Content warning: This article mentions sexual assault and child sexual abuse (CSA).</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell has spoken about her “dear friend” Prince Andrew and made new claims about a piece of evidence used against the former royal.</p> <p dir="ltr">In an exclusive interview from her jail cell, Maxwell told journalist Daphne Barak that she feels “so bad” for the prince.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I follow what is happening to him,” she told Barak.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the <em>Sun on Sunday</em>, the outlet that published the interview, Maxwell looked “shaken” when told Andrew’s lawyers had claimed the pair were never close.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I accept that this friendship could not survive my conviction,” she said in response. </p> <p dir="ltr">“He is paying such a price for the association. I consider him a dear friend. I care about him.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The interview is the first since she was convicted of sex trafficking underage girls for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to abuse between 1994 and 2004, for which she was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.</p> <p dir="ltr">It also comes as Andrew’s attempts to salvage his public image continue after he was accused of raping Virginia Giuffre during the period of time when she was a victim of Epstein. Two <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/five-key-details-in-prince-andrew-s-statement-after-settlement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weeks before the case was due to begin</a> in federal court, the prince settled the case with a reported payment of $US 12 million ($NZ 21.5 million).</p> <p dir="ltr">Though Maxwell refused to deny allegations she was in a relationship with Andrew, she now claims that one of the biggest pieces of evidence used against him is fake.</p> <p dir="ltr">The socialite claimed the infamous image of Andrew with his arm around Giuffre, with Maxwell in the background, was forged and that the “original one” has never been produced.</p> <p dir="ltr">"This photo is not real," Maxwell said of the photo reportedly taken at her London home in March 2001.</p> <p dir="ltr">"There was never an original one produced." </p> <p dir="ltr">According to the <em>Sun</em>, Maxwell wouldn’t speak further on Giuffre, telling Barak: “I don’t even want to start talking about Virginia.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Maxwell’s new claims go against what she has previously said about the image, including a 2015 email where Epstein’s lawyer asked her whether it was real to which she replied: “It looks real. I think it is.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When Barak questioned her about these claims, Maxwell said she had intended to say she recognised the interiors of her house.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don't recognise that picture and I don't believe it is a real picture,” Maxwell said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“... But I have come to discover that image I don’t believe is true. And the original has never been produced because it doesn’t exist. I don’t believe that image is a true image.”</p> <p dir="ltr">When asked to explain her response to Epstein’s lawyer, Maxwell it didn’t occur to her at the time that the image could have been created by someone.</p> <p dir="ltr">"If you see a photograph and it's a photograph of you in your home, and someone says to you, 'is that a picture of you?' So you don't question," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“[It] would never occur to me … that somebody would have created a photograph or, you know, done something with a picture … I recognised the surroundings of that photograph, nothing more than that.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The 60-year-old went on to claim that there were “over 50 problems with the picture” that led her to believe it was fake.</p> <p dir="ltr">When asked about reports she was romantically involved with the prince, Maxwell said she had heard “so many monstrous inaccuracies” about what happened.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I have read and seen and heard and had reported to me so many monstrous inaccuracies that I can't even start to pick apart all of them,” she said, adding that she would be “super-happy” to address them with Barak after her appeal.</p> <p dir="ltr">Maxwell also spoke about the possibility her friendship with Andrew could continue in the future.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don't have an expectation. People who I have been friends with — and very close friends with … I can't think about what they will want to do or not do,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em><strong>If you or someone you know is affected by issues in this article, there is support available. You can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Bravehearts on 1800 272 831, or Blue Knot on 1300 657 380 for support relating to sexual abuse.</strong></em></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a97000c-7fff-5592-ffbb-45f81c310597"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: US Department of Justice</em></p>

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"You opened the door to hell": Epstein victims address Ghislaine Maxwell as she is sentenced

<p dir="ltr"><em>Content Warning: This article discusses Child Sexual Abuse (CSA).</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Ghislaine Maxwell has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for recruiting and grooming four teenage girls who were sexually abused by her then-boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein.</p> <p dir="ltr">At her sentencing hearing in Manhattan federal court, the 60-year-old showed no emotion as she was sentenced early Wednesday (Australia time).</p> <p dir="ltr">Before learning the sentence, four of the survivors read out victim impact statements, describing the abuse they faced at the hands of Maxwell and Epstein, as well as the long term emotional impacts they have experienced as a result.</p> <p dir="ltr">“For a long time I wanted to erase from my mind the crimes that Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell committed against me … but I’ve had to acknowledge the long-lasting effects,” Annie Farmer, the fourth victim to take the stand, said, breaking into tears during her statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“One of the most painful and ongoing impacts of Maxwell and Epstein’s abuse was the loss of trust in myself.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Sarah Ransome, Elizabeth Stein, and the accuser known as “Kate” also shared their statements, while the attorney for Virginia Giuffre read out her statement in court.</p> <p dir="ltr">Standing up at a Plexiglass-enclosed lectern, Maxwell described Epstein as a “manipulative, cunning and controlling man” who fooled everyone around him and said she was “sorry” for the pain his victims experienced.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is my greatest regret of my life that I ever met Jeffrey Epstein,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I also acknowledge that I have been convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein commit these crimes.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And despite the many helpful and positive things I have done in my life and will continue to do … I know that my association with Epstein and this case will permanently stain me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">However, she attempted to shift the blame onto Epstein, emphasising that he “should have been here before all of you”, echoing arguments her lawyers made that she had been scapegoated for Epstein’s crimes.</p> <p dir="ltr">This is despite her involvement as the person to introduce the victims to Epstein and statements from victims describing her abusing them as well.</p> <p dir="ltr">During sentencing, US Circuit Judge Alisan Nathan said Maxwell didn’t appear to express remorse or take responsibility for her actions.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Maxwell directly and repeatedly and over the course of many years participated in a horrific scheme to entice, transport and traffic underage girls, some as young as 14, for sexual abuse by and with Jeffrey Epstein,” Judge Nathan said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The damage done to these young girls was incalculable.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The sentencing comes after Maxwell was convicted of five of six charges laid against her in December 2021, which followed a month-long trial and 40 hours of deliberation by jurors.</p> <p dir="ltr">Maxwell was convicted of:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">sex trafficking, </p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">conspiracy to entice individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, </p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">conspiracy to transport individuals under the age of 17 to travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity,</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Transportation of an individual under the age of 17 with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity, and,</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of individuals under the age of 18.</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">Prosecutors last week called Maxwell’s conduct “shockingly predatory” and said she deserved to spend at least 30 years behind bars, based on their interpretation of sentencing guidelines.</p> <p dir="ltr">Maxwell’s lawyers argued that she should be sentenced for no more than five and one-quarter years, due to her being scapegoated and the time she has already spent in prison since her arrest in July 2020.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, her official sentence is far lower than the maximum possible sentence of 55 years that she could have received.</p> <p dir="ltr">Judge Nathan calculated that the sentencing guidelines called for 15.5 to 19.5 years in prison, but delivered a higher sentence due to the victims’ disturbing testimony and Maxwell’s “direct and repeated participation in a horrific scheme”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Miss Maxwell is not punished in place of Epstein,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Miss Maxwell is being punished for the role that she played.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-10dc5516-7fff-a058-d8cb-bdb75916e583"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Ghislaine Maxwell conviction in jeopardy over juror's admission

<p>After a highly publicised trial that saw Ghislaine Maxwell convicted for sex-trafficking, the guilty verdict is now in jeopardy. </p> <p>After the trial ended, a juror made comments to the media about how discussing their own experience with sexual abuse with the other jurors helped them reach a guilty verdict, and ultimately affected the jury's deliberations. </p> <p>Both prosecutors and defense attorneys raised concerns over this revelation, as experts told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.insider.com/ghislaine-maxwell-jurors-could-face-charges-if-lied-under-oath-2022-1" target="_blank">Insider</a> that it's possible Maxwell's conviction could be thrown out as a result of the juror's comments to the media. </p> <p>It is also possible that the juror in question could face legal consequences such as perjury charges, if US District Judge Alison Nathan determines he was untruthful during the pre-trial procedure. </p> <p>The <span>voir dire is the procedure that happens before a trial commences to determine if each prospective juror is suitable to serve objectively. </span></p> <p><span>The juror told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/some-ghislaine-maxwell-jurors-initially-doubted-accusers-juror-says-2022-01-05/" target="_blank">Reuters</a> that they "flew through" the pre-trial questionnaire and didn't recall being asked about any previous experience with sexual assault, as they said they would've answered the question honestly. </span></p> <p><span>However, court records show that the questionnaire asked all prospective Maxwell jurors, "Have you or a friend or family member ever been the victim of sexual harassment, sexual abuse or sexual assault?"</span></p> <p><span>Following this revelation, a second juror from the Maxwell trial came forward and said they also shared their experiences of sexual assault in the jury deliberations, and potentially swaying the guilty verdict. </span></p> <p><span>In the hours after the news of the jurors' own experiences came to light, Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyers have called for a retrial on her case. </span></p> <p><span>Maxwell was found guilty on five out of six sex-trafficking and conspiracy counts, and is facing up to 65 years in jail.</span></p> <p><span>Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 after her involvement with disgraced late financier Jeffrey Epstein came to light. </span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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Secret court papers revealed in Prince Andrew case

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A secret legal settlement between Virginia Giuffre and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/giuffre-epstein-agreement-made-public-c-5175529" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">has been made public</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, as Prince Andrew attempts to dismiss Giuffre’s lawsuit against him.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Court papers, which have been sealed since 2009, revealed that Giuffre received $USD 500,000 ($NZD 736,332) from Epstein, who she claims trafficked and abused her.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The royal filed the settlement as part of an attempt to dismiss Giuffre’s case against him, in which she alleged he sexually assaulted her three times when she was 17. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In her lawsuit, Giuffre accused Andrew of abusing her at two of his homes, as well as forcing her to have sex at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/30/ghislaine-maxwell-what-happens-next-charges-sentencing" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">recently convicted</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> of five charges including recruiting and grooming teenage girls and sex trafficking a minor.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied the allegations, and has </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/prince-andrew-s-latest-claims-in-lawsuit" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">previously moved to dismiss the lawsuit</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by claiming it was “unconstitutional” under the Child Victims’ Act, since Giuffre was above New York’s age of consent at the time.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He also attempted to block proceedings on the grounds that Giuffre was no longer a US citizen three days before the settlement was released. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, a federal judge rejected the claims and ordered his lawyers to turn over key legal documents.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the release of Giuffre’s settlement, the prince’s legal team argue that the agreement shields him from liability due to provisions that prevent her from taking legal action against “any other person or entity” who could have been a defendant.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">NEW: A 2009 settlement agreement between Epstein and <a href="https://twitter.com/VRSVirginia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VRSVirginia</a> for $500k has been unsealed. Prince Andrew's lawyer's hope a clause in it (which says "potential defendants" in lawsuits brought by Giuffre are protected from liability) will see her sexual abuse lawsuit dismissed. <a href="https://t.co/750Iv5q4vh">pic.twitter.com/750Iv5q4vh</a></p> — Omid Scobie (@scobie) <a href="https://twitter.com/scobie/status/1478052106061836288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The document states that once Giuffre, referred to by her maiden name, received the funds that she agreed to “remise, release, acquit, satisfy and forever discharge the said second parties and any other from all, and all manner of, action and actions of Virginia Roberts, including state or federal, cause and causes of action”. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though Andrew was not mentioned in the document, his attorneys said the settlement released him from liability.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Giuffre settled her sex-traffickinig and sexual-abuse claims against Epstein in 2009,” his lawyers said in a court filing on October 29. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“In doing so, she provided Epstein with a general release of all claims against him and numerous other individuals and entities.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“To avoid being dragged into future legal disputes, Epstein negotiated for this broad release, insisting that it cover any and all persons who Giuffre identified as potential targets of future lawsuits, regardless of merit - or lack thereof - to any such claims.”</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrinceAndrew?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrinceAndrew</a>'s legal team is arguing that bc <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JeffreyEpstein?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JeffreyEpstein</a> paid a settlement to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VirginiaGiuffre?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VirginiaGiuffre</a>, she can't pursue him for his alleged sexual assault crimes against her. That sounds like "Yes I did it, but my friend Jeffrey paid the girl."</p> — Peter Murphy (@PeterWMurphy1) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterWMurphy1/status/1478076434308427777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2022</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They argued that Andrew’s status as a “senior member of the British royal family” meant he belonged to “one of the expressly identified categories of persons” who were “released from liability under the release agreement”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“As a third-party beneficiary of the release agreement, Prince Andrew is entitled to enforce the general release contained therein.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A representative for Giuffre’s lawyers said the document’s release was “irrelevant to Ms Giuffre’s claim against Prince Andrew” as it doesn’t mention him, as reported by </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/03/jeffrey-epstein-prince-andrew-virginia-giuffre" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Guardian</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He did not even know about it. He could not have been a ‘potential defendant’ in the settled case against Jeffrey Epstein both because he was not subject to jurisdiction in Florida and because the Florida case involved federal claims to which he was not a part,” the representative said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The actual parties to the release have made clear that Prince Andrew was not covered by it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Lastly, the reason we sought to have the release made public was to refute the claims being made about it by Prince Andrew’s PR campaign.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrew’s legal team will argue for the dismissal on Tuesday in New York, where US District Judge Lewis Kaplan will decide whether Giuffre will be blocked from suing the prince.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

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Never-before-seen photos emerge in Ghislaine Maxwell abuse trial

<p dir="ltr"><em>Content warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of child abuse and sexual assault, which may be triggering to some readers.</em></p> <p dir="ltr">British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has come under scrutiny in court, as she faces charges including sex trafficking of minors.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Maxwell has been on trial over accusations of helping Epstein recruit and sexually abuse four underage girls, to which she has pleaded guily to.</p> <p dir="ltr">As the trial reaches its seventh day of proceedings, three of the four women have testified against the 59-year-old former girlfriend of Epstein.</p> <p dir="ltr">She has consistently denied playing a role in the series of sexual assaults Epstein has been accused and charged for, with her legal team echoing her claims.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Maxwell’s lawyers have said her accusers’ memories have been corrupted over time, with lawyer Bobbi C. Sternheim telling the court that she is being treated as “a scapegoat for a man who behaved badly”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846239/epstein1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/dc2969dfb3f14dd2afa3906c3ea118a3" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image:<span> </span></em><em>US District Attorney’s Office</em></p> <p dir="ltr">However, a document presented before the court on Tuesday has provided a conflicting view of the relationship between them.</p> <p dir="ltr">An FBI digital forensic examiner shared details of the document, which was created by a user called ‘GMax’ on a computer seized by the agency from Epstein’s New York mansion in 2019.</p> <p dir="ltr">The author of the document wasn’t revealed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Jeffrey and Ghislaine have been together as a couple for the last 11 years,” the document read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They are, contrary to what people think, rarely apart, I almost always see them together.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Jeffrey and Ghislaine share many mutual interests and they have a lot of fun together,” it continued, adding that “they compliment each other really well”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“On top of being partner’s (sic) they are also best of friends.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Never-before-seen photos were also presented to the court, with some showing Ms Maxwell massaging Epstein’s feet. Others showed the pair embracing and kissing in various locations that were often exotic.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846238/epstein2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c3d5ec6d295b450caa3382b4fac41820" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image:<span> </span></em><em>US District Attorney’s Office</em></p> <p dir="ltr">The images were also seized during the 2019 raid.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prosecutors are expected to call a fourth woman to testify against Ms Maxwell, before wrapping up their case two weeks ahead of schedule.</p> <p dir="ltr">They allege Ms Maxwell played a part in procuring girls and young women for Epstein, the multimillionaire financier who had ties to billionaire Leslie Wexner, Donald Trump and Prince Andrew.</p> <p dir="ltr">No allegations of trafficking have been made against Mr Trump or Mr Wexner.</p> <p dir="ltr">Virginia Giuffre, another woman alleging she was trafficked and abused by Epstein and Ms Maxwell, has alleged she was trafficked to Prince Andrew when she was 17.</p> <p dir="ltr">She is not expected to appear in Ms Maxwell’s trial.</p> <p dir="ltr">The first two women to testify, known by the pseudonyms Jane and Kate, testified that they had been aspiring entertainers when they were approached by Maxwell, who told them Epstein could help them advance their careers.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846237/epstein3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/95c492519b3b47bf83424ce9b107fb7a" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image:<span> </span></em><em>US District Attorney’s Office</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Jane said she was first abused by Epstein during the mid-1990s when she was 14, and that Ms Maxwell trained her in how to sexually satisfy Epstein.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also testified that Epstein personally drove her to meet Mr Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort.</p> <p dir="ltr">David Rodgers, one of Epstein’s pilots, also testified, telling the court he had seen Jane on at least four flights.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She’s flown with Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and other people as well,” Mr Rodgers said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The second woman to testify, Kate, said she was first abused when she was 17 and was lured into giving Epstein sexual massages.</p> <p dir="ltr">On Tuesday, a woman identified as Carolyn testified that she was a minor when she began having sex with Epstein. She also said Ms Maxwell touched her once while she was preparing to massage Epstein.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was fully nude and [Maxwell] came in and she felt my boobs and my hips and my buttocks and said that … I had a great body for Mr Epstein and his friends,” Carolyn told the court.</p> <p dir="ltr">While under cross-examination by Ms Maxwell’s lawyer Jeffrey Pagliuca, she was asked whether there was an “incentive for you to stick to your story” after she reached a $USD 3.25 million settlement with a fund to compensate Epstein’s victims, mentioning Ms Maxwell in her claim.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Money will not ever fix what that woman has done to me,” Carolyn said, sobbing.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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“The powerful and rich are not exempt”: Prince Andrew sued over alleged sexual assault

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Australian-American Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime accusers, has sued Prince Andrew, saying he sexually assaulted her when she was 17.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Giuffre’s lawyers filed the lawsuit in Manhattan federal court on Monday.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a statement, Ms Guiffre said the lawsuit, where she alleges she was trafficked to him and sexually abused by him, was brought under the Child Victims Act.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Under the act, victims of childhood sexual abuse can file a lawsuit up to the age of 55 against a person or institution that may have been involved.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I am holding Prince Andrew accountable for what he did to me,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The powerful and rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I hope that other victims will see that it is possible not to live in silence and fear, but to reclaim one’s life by speaking out and demanding justice.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I did not come to this decision lightly,” she continued.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 400px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843011/82482731_153388842942400_6058970600144240907_n.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ef68d67ff30c4f0f91e5656b1a98dbf1" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Virginia Guiffre / Instagram</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“As a mother and a wife, my family comes first - and I know that this action will subject me to further attacks by Prince Andrew and his surrogates - but I knew if I did not pursue this action, I would be letting them and victims everywhere down.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a previous interview with </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">BBC Newsnight </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">in 2019, Prince Andrew said he had never had sex with Ms Guiffre.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It didn’t happen,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He continued to say he had “no recollection” of ever meeting her and that there were “a number of things that are wrong” about her account of the encounter that allegedly occurred in 2001.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened,” Andrew said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the allegations, Prince Andrew abused Ms Guiffre multiple times while she was under the age of 18.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On one occasion that allegedly occurred in Ghislaine Maxwell’s home in London, Guiffre was allegedly forced by Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew to have sexual intercourse with the prince against her will.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The lawsuit also claims that on a separate occasion, Prince Andrew allegedly sexually abused Guiffre at Epstein’s New York home, where Maxwell forced Guiffre and another victim to sit on Andrew’s lap while he touched her.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that Andrew sexually abused the plaintiff on Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During each incident, Epstein, Maxwell, and/or Prince Andrew gave her “express or implied threats” to engage in the sexual acts with the prince, according to the lawsuit.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 331.54296875px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843012/gettyimages-1192977806.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d29f2f9760cf45bd9be04d6525fdfc5f" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Melania Trump, Prince Andrew, Gwendolyn Beck, and Jeffrey Epstein. Image: Getty</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Maxwell, 59, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges, and will face trial at Manhattan federal court in November.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Epstein died at the age of 66 while in federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019, one month after his arrest for sex trafficking charges.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Manhattan prosecutors have formally requested to speak with Prince Andrew as part of their continuing probe into Epstein and his encounters with women and teenage girls.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Guiffre’s action comes as a fund set up to pay Epstein’s victims announced that it had largely completed its work on Monday, after agreeing to provide $US 125 million ($NZD 179 million) to more than 135 individuals.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Epstein Victims Compensation Program, administered by Jordana Feldman, was designed as an alternative to lawsuits, which could take years to result in a payout.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Feldman said 92 percent of 150 eligible applicants have accepted the payments offered by the fund, which were financed with money from Epstein’s estate.</span></p>

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“I just wish her well” Trump’s bizarre show of support for accused child sex trafficker

<p><span>When US President Donald Trump held his first media briefing on the coronavirus in almost three months, it briefly went off topic after a reporter asked him about accused child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.</span></p> <p>Maxwell, who was allegedly Jeffrey Epstein’s right hand woman, helped find and sexually abuse underage girls and is currently behind bars in New York. She has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges.</p> <p>Towards the end of Trump’s briefing, which until that point solely focused on the pandemic, he was asked whether Maxwell would expose the powerful men involved in the sex ring for a deal from prosecutors.</p> <p>“Ghislaine Maxwell is in prison, and a lot of people want to know if she’s going to turn in powerful people. I know you’ve talked in the past about Prince Andrew, and you’ve criticised Bill Clinton’s behaviour. I’m wondering, do you feel that she’s going to turn in powerful men? How do you see that working out?” the reporter asked.</p> <p>“I don’t know, I haven’t really been following it too much. I just wish her well, frankly,” Mr Trump replied.</p> <p>“I have met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach. And I guess they (Maxwell and Epstein) lived in Palm Beach. But I wish her well, whatever it is.</p> <p>“I don’t know the situation with Prince Andrew. I’m just not aware of it.”</p> <p>Many who were watching were shocked after hearing the President wishing an accused child sex trafficker well.</p> <p>Maxwell was arrested and charged earlier this month.</p> <p>She was accused of “conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse minors”, alleging she both “facilitated” and “participated in” his crimes.</p> <p>“Maxwell enticed minor girls, got them to trust her, and then delivered them into the trap that she and Jeffrey Epstein had set,” said the Acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Audrey Strauss.</p> <p>“She pretended to be a woman they could trust. All the while, she was setting them up to be abused sexually by Epstein and, in some cases, Maxwell herself.”</p> <p>“The heinous crimes these charges allege are, and always will be abhorrent for the lasting trauma they inflict on victims,” added New York Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.</p> <p> </p>

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Ghislaine Maxwell is secretly married, prosecutors say

<p>Ghislaine Maxwell is secretly married but refuses to reveal the name of her spouse to FBI investigators, prosecutors said during a court proceeding.</p> <p>Speaking in Maxwell’s bail hearing on Tuesday, prosecutors said she “declined” to identify her spouse to court officials.</p> <p>The disclosure came as Maxwell pleaded not guilty via video link to federal charges accusing her of enabling Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking of minor girls.</p> <p>Maxwell’s lawyers requested her release on a US$5 million bond co-signed by six people, but she was ultimately denied bail.</p> <p>“In addition to failing to describe in any way the absence of proposed co-signers of a bond, the defendant also makes no mention whatsoever about the financial circumstances or assets of her spouse whose … identity she declined to provide to pretrial services,” assistant US attorney Alison Moe told Manhattan federal judge Alison Nathan.</p> <p>“There is no information about who will be co-signing this bond or their assets and no details whatsoever.”</p> <p>Moe said Maxwell poses an “<a rel="noopener" href="https://nypost.com/2020/07/15/ghislaine-maxwell-is-secretly-married-prosecutors-say/" target="_blank">extreme</a>” flight risk if released on bail, saying that she was evasive about the source of her wealth and used <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/15/ghislaine-maxwell-married-court-jeffrey-epstein" target="_blank">a fake identity</a> to purchase the New Hampshire estate where she was arrested on July 2.</p> <p>She was sent back to the Metropolitan Detention Center pending her trial, which is slated for July 12, 2021.</p> <p>Maxwell, a long-time associate of Epstein, is charged in a 17-page indictment with four counts of conspiracy to entice minors into sex acts and two counts of perjury. She has repeatedly denied all allegations of wrongdoing.</p> <p>The 58-year-old faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted.</p>

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Ghislaine Maxwell arrested by FBI

<p><br /><span>Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite and the long-time girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, has been hit with charges for allegedly helping to recruit, from and viciously abuse children.</span><br /><br /><span>Maxwell, who benefitted for years from Epstein’s prominent wealth, was the billionaire’s travel companion on trips around the world.</span><br /><br /><span>"Maxwell played a critical role in helping Epstein to identify, befriend, and groom victims for abuse. In some cases, Maxwell participated in the abuse herself," Audrey Strauss, the acting Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said.</span><br /><br /><span>She has also accused of lying to authorities during previous investigations into Epstein.</span><br /><br /><span>"Maxwell lied because the truth, as alleged, was almost unspeakable," Ms Strauss said.</span><br /><br /><span>"Maxwell enticed minor girls, got them to trust her, and then delivered them into the trap that she and Epstein had set for them.</span><br /><br /><span>"She pretended to be a woman they could trust … all the while she was setting them up to be sexually abused by Epstein and in some cases by Maxwell herself."</span><br /><br /><span>William F Sweeney Jr, an assistant director at the FBI, said investigators had been "discreetly keeping tabs on Maxwell's whereabouts" since Epstein's arrest in 2019.</span><br /><br /><span>"More recently we learned she'd slithered away to a gorgeous property in New Hampshire, continuing to live a life of privilege while her victims live with the trauma inflicted upon them years ago.</span><br /><br /><span>"We moved when we were ready and Ms Maxwell was arrested without incident."</span><br /><br /><span>He went on to say: "Like Epstein, Ms Maxwell chose to blatantly disregard the law and her responsibility as an adult, using whatever means she had at her disposal to lure vulnerable youth into behaviour they should never have been exposed and which creates lasting harm."</span><br /><br /><span>Reports say Ms Maxwell has been charged with six counts in connection with the ongoing investigation into Epstein’s accomplices.</span><br /><br /><span>The charges are enticement and conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and transportation and conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.</span><br /><br /><span>Other charges include two counts of perjury, according to a federal indictment unsealed today.</span><br /><br /><span>"In particular, from at least in or about 1994, up to an including at least in or about 1997, Maxwell assisted, facilitated, and contributed to Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of minor girls by, among other things, helping Epstein to recruit, groom, and ultimately abuse victims known to Maxwell and Epstein to be under the age of 18," the indictment says.</span><br /><br /><span>The victims included girls as young as 14-years-old.</span></p>

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Jeffrey Epstein's 'madam' Ghislain Maxwell spotted in Paris

<p><span>British socialite and longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, is reportedly "hiding out" in a luxury Paris apartment, according to </span><em>The Sun</em><span>.</span></p> <p><span>The 58-year-old reportedly fled to France to avoid questioning in the US over her connection to the late disgraced billionaire and has been living in plain sight in Paris's exclusive 8th Arrondissement, just a few minutes away from Epstein's property that was raided last year.</span></p> <p><span>A US Federal Bureau of Investigation probe is currently focusing on Maxwell and others who facilitated his alleged trafficking on underage girls said law enforcement sources in December.</span></p> <p><span>Maxwell's whereabouts have remained unknown as she disappeared from the public eye since 2016.</span></p> <p><span>The socialite has denied the allegations against her.</span></p> <p><span>But according to </span><em>The Su</em><span>n, she was spotted in France before COVID-19 lockdowns were enforced and has stayed there ever since.</span></p> <p><span>Sources told </span><em>The Sun</em><span> that Maxwell hopes to benefit from being a French citizen as she cannot be extradited should she face criminal charges in the United States.</span></p> <p><span>Maxwell has been accused of recruiting underage girls for Epstein to abuse, but she has denied those claims.</span></p>

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New witness speaks out about Prince Andrew

<p>A new witness has come forward in the case against Prince Andrew, claiming she saw the Duke of York dancing with his accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre in a London nightclub.</p> <p>Lawyer Lisa Bloom, who represents five women who say they were sexually assaulted by financier Jeffrey Epstein, said an <a href="https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/lisa-bloom-new-witness-saw-prince-andrew-with-jeffrey-epstein-victim-at-nightclub-in-2001/">unnamed witness</a> saw Prince Andrew with Giuffre in London’s Tramp nightclub in 2001.</p> <p>Bloom told a press conference in New York that the witness stepped on Prince Andrew’s foot by mistake while dancing next to him, and a friend told her who he was. The witness then noticed the prince was with a young girl that she later recognised from pictures as Giuffre.</p> <p>Bloom said the witness stepped forward with the information because she was “incensed” that Prince Andrew had denied meeting Giuffre in his <em>BBC Newsnight </em>interview. “Because he is a very powerful person, she is in fear of the repercussions to her,” Bloom said on Wednesday.</p> <p>“On behalf of my client, I have relayed the details of her story to the FBI, and she is ready, willing and able to speak to them when they are ready.”</p> <p>In her interview with <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-50607705">Panorama</a></em>, Giuffre said she was in 2001 taken by Epstein and socialite Ghislaine Maxwell to Tramp and introduced to Prince Andrew, who asked her to dance.</p> <p>“He is the most hideous dancer I’ve ever seen in my life,” Giuffre said. “His sweat was like it was raining basically everywhere.”</p> <p>Giuffre said after they left the club, Maxwell instructed her “to do for Andrew what I do for Jeffrey”. She alleged she had sex with Prince Andrew later that evening at Maxwell’s house in Belgrave.</p> <p>The Duke has repeatedly denied having any form of sexual contact or relationship with Giuffre. He stepped back from his royal duties in November following backlash from his <em>Newsnight </em>interview.</p>

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"He brought these people into the royal fold": Unearthed pic of Epstein, Weinstein and Maxwell at Princess Beatrice's 18th birthday

<p>A photograph of smiling Jeffrey Weinstein, his alleged pimp Ghislaine Maxwell and disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein celebrating at Princess Beatrice’s 18th birthday party has been uncovered. </p> <p>The shocking image was obtained exclusively by<span> </span><em>The Sun</em><span> </span>and shows the trio grinning happily at the camera.</p> <p>The three are believed to have been invited to be in the presence of royalty by Prince Andrew. </p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B53MPiFgqnl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B53MPiFgqnl/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by New York Post (@nypost)</a> on Dec 9, 2019 at 10:50am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>While Epstein, Weinstein and Maxwell mingled at the lavish birthday party in 2006, police had already prepared an arrest warrant for Epstein on child sex abuse charges and were raiding his Florida mansion. </p> <p>Eight days after the billionaire posed in a US Navy Seal uniform for what would become an astonishing snap, he was in cuffs.</p> <p>Tuxedo-wearing Weinstein was due in court the month after the photo was taken on account of a sex offence. </p> <p>Maxwell, seen in a gold mask and red headdress, is currently being investigated by the FBI on suspicion of procuring underage girls for Epstein.</p> <p>A source told<span> </span><em>The Sun on Sunday</em>: “This photograph sums up just why the Epstein affair has been so disastrous for Andrew.</p> <p>“He brought these people into the royal fold, to Windsor Castle no less, where they could rub shoulders with the great and good.</p> <p>“It is an astounding lack of judgment at the very least.</p> <p>“This picture will raise further questions about Andrew’s interaction with these individuals.”</p> <p>The disturbing picture was taken at the AUD $770,296 birthday ball bash in Berkshire on July 15, 2006. </p> <p>Around 400 guests turned up in mainly Victorian dress for the party’s 1888 theme marking 100 years before Beatrice had been born.</p> <p>The now-shunned group were photographed on a patio, next to a wicker sofa, in front of the lush Windsor grounds. </p> <p>It is an identical backdrop to official photos released of the event showing Andrew, ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, Princess Beatrice and sister Princess Eugenie.</p> <p>The ball continued the Queen’s tradition of giving her grandchildren a party to mark their entry into adulthood.</p> <p>However she and Prince Philip did not attend the ceremony. </p> <p>Royals at the bash included Peter and Zara Phillips and Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex.</p> <p>Guests guzzled down 400 bottles of expensive champagne and ate 4000 canapes.</p> <p>An estimated 250 guests were invited to a three-course dinner, and later on a further 150 arrived for canapes and champagne at 10pm.</p> <p>Princess Beatrice wore a AUD$19,251 blue taffeta gown, which was created by Fergie’s British designer friend Georgina Chapman. </p> <p>Interestingly enough, she would become the wife of Weinstein who she went on to divorce following the #MeToo scandal and dozens of women claimed he had sexually abused or harassed them. </p> <p>In his Newsnight interview last month, a 59-year-old Prince Andrew claimed he had no idea of the probe into Epstein at the time of the Windsor Castle birthday bash.</p> <p>Jack Scarola, 72, a lawyer for Epstein’s victims, told The Sun on Sunday: “There was a fairly extensive investigation under way by then.</p> <p>“It is absolutely certain that at the time of the Windsor Castle gathering, Jeffrey Epstein was aware an investigation was going on – a search warrant had been executed on his home.</p> <p>“I will leave it to others to judge whether it goes to the heart of concerns about the conduct of Prince Andrew.”</p> <p> </p>

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New damning images of Prince Andrew with Jeffrey Epstein and girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell

<p>Damning new images show Prince Andrew alongside Jeffrey Epstein and “madam” Ghislaine Maxwell at the Ascot races in 2000.</p> <p>The discovery was shown on the BBC program<span> </span>Panorama<span> </span>as Virginia Giuffre shared details of how she allegedly had sex with Prince Andrew three times in 2001 and 2002 when she was just 17 years old.</p> <p>The photos show the trio wearing fancy racewear and hats, laughing and smiling at the event.</p> <p>The outing was at a time where Prince Andrew claimed that he was seeing Epstein once or twice a year.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7833003/body-andrew.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/16bba459eef34179adc01ec1d753136a" /></p> <p>Prince Andrew had been introduced to Epstein months earlier by Maxwell, and the couple attended Windsor Castle for the Prince’s 40th birthday.</p> <p>Prince Andrew has constantly denied the allegations from Giuffre and hasn’t been seen in public since Epstein’s death, which was ruled as a suicide.</p> <p><strong>Bombshell emails uncovered in Panorama documentary</strong></p> <p>In the BBC documentary, emails between Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell were uncovered and have thrown doubt on his claims that he did not recall meeting Virginia Giuffre in 2001.</p> <p>Giuffre alleges that she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew.</p> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CYTrKvQI0sQ"></iframe></div> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <p>An email that was aired on Panorama after being found buried in thousands of pages of legal documents shows that Maxwell and Prince Andrew discussed Guiffre at one point in 2015.</p> <p>“Let me know when we can talk. Got some specific questions to ask you about Virginia Roberts,” Prince Andrew wrote to Maxwell.</p> <p>She replies: “Have some info – call me when you have a moment.”</p> <p>Panorama<span> </span>reported that three days letter, Prince Andrew was sent a “dossier of inconsistences and inaccuracies in articles” about Giuffre.</p> <p><strong>Virginia Giuffre recalls night she was given order to have sex with Queen’s son</strong></p> <p>The documentary included an interview with Giuffre, who recalled the night she met Prince Andrew as they went to a nightclub.</p> <p>“It was horrible, and this guy was sweating all over me, I mean his sweat … it was raining, basically, everywhere … and I was just grossed out from it,” she said.</p> <p>“But I knew I had to keep him happy because that’s what Jeffrey (Epstein) and Ghislaine (Maxwell) would expect from me.”</p> <p>She also explained that it was in the car ride to Maxwell’s London home that she was told to have sex with Prince Andrew.</p> <p>“In the car, Ghislaine tells me that I have to do for Andrew what I do for Jeffrey — and that just made me sick,” she told the BBC.</p> <p>“I just didn’t expect it from royalty. I didn’t expect it from someone people look up to and admire in the royal family.”</p> <p>Giuffree goes into explicit detail of the night that she alleges she was made to have sex with Prince Andrew.</p> <p>“It was disgusting. He wasn’t mean or anything,” she said.</p> <p>“He got up and he said ‘thanks’ and walked out and I just sat there in bed, just horrified and ashamed and felt dirty and had to get up and have a shower,” she explained.</p> <p>Giuffre also explained the impact that having sex with the Queen’s son had on her mental health.</p> <p>“It was a wicked time in my life, it was a really scary time. I had just been abused by a member of a royal family — so when you talk about these chains, yeah, I wasn’t chained to the sink, but these powerful people were my chains. I didn’t know what could happen.</p> <p>“I couldn’t comprehend how in the highest levels of the government, powerful people were allowing this to happen. Not only allowing it to happen but participating in it.”</p> <p><strong>Prince Andrew declines to answer questions from BBC</strong></p> <p>The documentary explained that the BBC reached out with detailed questions to Prince Andrew, but he declined to answer. However, a statement was provided to the organisation.</p> <p>“The Duke of York unequivocally regrets his ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein’s suicide left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims,” the statement said.</p> <p>“The duke deeply sympathises with those affected who want some form of closure.</p> <p>“It is his hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. The duke is willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.”</p> </div>

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