Prince Andrew allegedly lobbied the US government on Jeffrey Epstein’s behalf for a "favourable" plea deal in a underage prostitution case in Florida in 2008, it has been claimed in newly unsealed court documents.
The trove of documents, published for the first time after an appeal to keep them secret by Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyers was rejected this week, highlights the relationship between the Duke and the disgraced late financier.
They are part of a
2015 civil lawsuit brought against Epstein and Ms Maxwell, 58, by Viriginia Roberts Giuffre, who claims she was forced by the millionaire to sleep with Prince Andrew and others when she was 17.
The Duke has strenuously denied Ms Giuffre’s allegations.
Two unnamed victims of the financier, identified only as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, allege that he relied on help from Prince Andrew and other high-profile friends to secure a reduced sentence from the US Attorney for South Florida.
Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008 as part of a controversial "sweetheart deal" with federal authorities in Florida.
He served 18 months in prison, though he was allowed out on work release for 12 hours a day, six days a week.
The Does were appealing for the release of documents in the case which they said would prove the royal's involvement.
"(They are) seeking documents regarding Epstein’s lobbying efforts to persuade the government to give him a favorable plea arrangement, including efforts on his behalf by Prince Andrew and former Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz," they claim.
"They have alleged these materials are needed to prove their allegations that, after Epstein signed the non-prosecution agreement his performance was delayed while he used his significant social and political connections to lobby the justice department to obtain a more favorable plea deal."
The Duke has claimed he moved to distance himself from his former friend after the conviction, meeting with him on only one occasion in New York in 2010 to formally cut ties.
In another part of her deposition, Ms Giuffre is asked by her lawyers in 2016 if Prince Andrew would have "relevant information" that could help investigators.
"Yes, he would know a lot of the truth," she said of the Duke. "I don’t know how much he’d be able to help you with, but seeing as he’s in a lot of trouble himself these days I think he might, so I think he might be valuable."
Ms Giuffre, now 36, claims that she was forced to have sex with Epstein, who in turn forced her to have sex with a number of his associates.
"Epstein instructed Jane Doe to give Prince Andrew whatever he demanded and required her to report back to him on the details of the sexual abuse," the lawyers said. "Maxwell faciliatated Epstein’s acts of sexual abuse by acting as a madam."
Ms Giuffre in other parts of the testimony says the now famous photo of Prince Andrew with his arm around her waist in a London mansion was taken by Epstein on her Kodak camera.
She says she gave the picture to the FBI during their investigations in 2011.
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