Prince Andrew set for crunch week in US sex assault lawsuit
Britain's Prince Andrew faces a crucial week in his fight against a sexual assault lawsuit brought in New York by a long-time accuser of late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his onetime partner Ghislaine Maxwell.
The release of a legal settlement on Monday and oral arguments in the case on Tuesday come after socialite Maxwell was convicted last week of sex trafficking minors for Epstein.
Virginia Giuffre alleges that Epstein, a money manager who killed himself while awaiting trial in 2019, lent her out for sex with his wealthy and powerful associates, including Andrew.
She has sued the British royal for unspecified damages, alleging he sexually assaulted her in 2001 when she was 17 and a minor under American law.
The 61-year-old Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II's second son, has not been criminally charged and has repeatedly and strenuously denied the allegations.
A 2009 settlement between Epstein and Giuffre is due to be made public by a New York court on Monday.
Andrew's lawyers have claimed that the agreement protects the prince and others from being sued by Giuffre.
They hope it will be sufficient grounds for a judge to dismiss her lawsuit against the royal.
On Tuesday, New York...