ROYALSPrince Andrew Will Have 'Every Single Bit Of Dirty Laundry' Aired Out During Virginia Giuffre Trial, Lawyer Claims
Jan. 27 2022, Published 10:51 a.m. ET
Prince Andrew has a long road ahead of him.
The 61-year-old royal, who is facing a trial against plaintiff Virginia Giuffre, should expect things to get ugly, according to former U.S. federal prosecutor Mitchell Epner.
According to The Sun, the New York based attorney believes Andrew will lose the case no matter what, because even if he wins the verdict, his "dirty laundry" will already have been aired out for the world to see.
"If he goes to trial, he will either lose by having a verdict against him or he will lose because it will be the most pyrrhic victory in history because every single bit of dirty laundry he's ever had will be aired out in public," Epner reportedly explained.
The Duke of York was sued by Virginia, 38, back in August 2021 following claims she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions when she was a minor. The royal's legal team attempted to get the lawsuit dismissed, although a judge ruled earlier this month that the case can move forward.
As OK! reported, Andrew is now demanding a trial by jury "on all causes of action asserted in the complaint," which Epner believes is "a standard thing" to do in case Virginia drops her own demand for a jury trial.
- Prince Andrew Demands A Trial By Jury In Virginia Giuffre Lawsuit 'On All Causes Of Action Asserted In The Complaint': Report
- Prince Charles & Prince William 'Shocked' Prince Andrew Is Demanding A Jury Trial In Sexual Assault Case, Urging Him To Settle The Matter 'As Soon As Possible,' Source Spills
- Prince Andrew 'Shocked' Virginia Giuffre's Sexual Assault Suit Made It This Far, Royal 'Believed His Lawyers Would Find A Loophole'
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Andrew's request for a jury trial therefore protects him from being "stuck in front of the judge," who so far "has shown enormous antipathy towards Prince Andrew's attorneys," according to Epner.
The attorney also gave his take on the claims against Andrew and the infamous 2001 photo of him with his arm wrapped around Virginia as a teenager while at Ghislaine Maxwell's house.
"40-year-old men don't just randomly put their arms around 16 or 17-year-old girls they do not know, are not related to, or not the children of friends at random parties," Epner reportedly stated. "That does not occur."
Despite the heinous allegations against him, Andrew has maintained his innocence, and in a new filing on Wednesday, January 26, his lawyers issued a formal denial of the accusations.
The new filing mentioned a myriad of new defense arguments, including that too much time has passed since the alleged incidents took place, in addition to citing Virginia's "own wrongful conduct."
The defense also argued Virginia gave up her rights after signing a settlement with Jeffrey Epstein in 2009. However, the judge recently denied Andrew's attempt to use the previous agreement to protect him from further litigation.
