Prince Andrew is mentioned in latest Jeffrey Epstein court battle
EXCLUSIVE: Virginia Roberts’ lawyers accuse Prince Andrew of engaging in ‘extreme and outrageous conduct’ as he is mentioned in latest court battle against JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank who are being sued for ‘facilitating Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crimes’
- The Duke settled a sex assault lawsuit filed by Miss Roberts last year for a reported $12m (£10m) but he is now said to think he should have fought the case
- Andrew is reportedly considering writing his memoir and returning to public life
Prince Andrew engaged in ‘extreme and outrageous conduct’ with his accuser Virginia Roberts, her lawyers claimed last night.
The Duke of York’s conduct was ‘continuous and severe’ when he allegedly had sex with Miss Roberts three times when she was 17 and a victim of the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Lawyers for Miss Roberts compared his behaviour to that of Deutsche Bank, which they claim facilitated Epstein’s sex trafficking operation.
The remark is another blow to Andrew at a time when he is reportedly considering writing his memoir as he seeks to return to public life.
The Duke settled a sex assault lawsuit filed by Miss Roberts last year for a reported $12m (£10m) but he is now said to think he should have fought the case.
Lawyers for Miss Roberts compared Prince Andrew’s behaviour to that of Deutsche Bank, which they claim facilitated Epstein’s sex trafficking operation. Pictured: His is pictured driving down the Long Walk in Windsor, March 4, 2023
The Duke of York’s conduct was ‘continuous and severe’ when he allegedly had sex with Miss Roberts. Pictured: An undated handout photo shows the Duke of York and Virginia Giuffre, with Ghislaine Maxwell behind
The remarks about Andrew came during a hearing in New York in a case filed by an anonymous woman called Jane Doe against American bank JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank.
The woman claims both institutions turned a blind eye to Epstein’s sex trafficking operation in exchange for which he brought wealthy clients to them.
The reference to Andrew came during a discussion about the woman’s allegations about intentional infliction of emotional distress – Miss Roberts accused Andrew in her lawsuit of the same claim.
Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer who represents Doe and Miss Roberts, told the court that there were a ‘plethora of allegations’ against Deutsche Bank and that ‘over and over’ red flags about Epstein were ignored.
She said that there was a parallel in that the bank and the Duke both engaged in ‘continuous, extreme and outrageous conduct’.
In Prince Andrew’s case it was ‘continuous, severe conduct’, she added.
Miss McCawley said that for Deutsche Bank there was a ‘quid pro quo’ with Epstein whereby he brought in millions of dollars of new money.
The bank was ‘incentivised’ to keep Epstein ‘happy’ so it could benefit from the business, Miss McCawley said.
The woman claims JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank turned a blind eye to Epstein’s sex trafficking operation. Pictured: Jeffrey Epstein appears in a photograph taken for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services’ sex offender registry March 28, 2017
The Duke of York attending the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk last year
Andrew’s settlement with Miss Roberts was mentioned four times during the 90 minute hearing in Manhattan.
Lawyers for Deutsche Bank said that there was a ‘broad expectation from the breadth of that release’, referring to the agreement he signed with Miss Roberts.
The bank was attempting to argue that an agreement signed by Doe with Epstein’s estate for compensation in September last year meant her allegations about its dealings with Epstein should be dismissed.
As part of the agreement with Epstein’s estate, Doe specifically exempted the former head of JP Morgan and Barclays, Jes Staley, and billionaire investor Leon Black from future liability, the court heard.
Mr Staley’s relationship with Epstein has come under intense scrutiny as a result of court filings in the Doe case.
He was chief executive of JP Morgan’s exclusive private bank, which had Epstein as a client, until 2013
Mr Staley became head of Barclays in 2015 and was forced out in 2021, after Epstein’s suicide renewed interest in their relationship.
In the court in New York, David Boies, a lawyer for Doe, said that Mr Staley’s relationship with Epstein was central to the case.
Jes Staley’s relationship with Epstein has come under intense scrutiny. Pictured: Mr Staley at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit at Union West on October 10, 2019, in New York
Jeffrey Epstein is pictured outside his New York mansion in February 2019
Mr Boies said: ‘Jes Staley himself participated in the sexual abuse and sex trafficking and witnessed it’.
As a result there ‘couldn’t be any doubt’ that JP Morgan knew about Epstein’s operation, Mr Boies argued.
Felicia Ellsworth, a lawyer for the bank, claimed that it merely engaged in ‘routine banking activity’ with Epstein.
She argued that the allegations in the complaint were that Mr Staley ‘witnessed abuse and participated in the abuse’ but not that he was involved in sex trafficking.
That would bar Miss Doe’s claims under the law it had been filed, Miss Ellsworth argued.
JP Morgan is now suing Mr Staley saying he should be personally liable for any compensation paid to Doe and is seeking to claw back more than $80m (£67m) it paid to him.
A lawyer for Mr Staley did not respond to a request for comment.
She has previously said that he did not use code words with Epstein and did not engage in any wrongdoing.
Mr Staley himself has claimed that he thought he knew Epstein but later realised he didn’t actually know him.
A lawyer for Andrew did not respond to a request for comment.
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