He accused Epstein and now denounces Prince Andrew for sexual abuse

One of the alleged victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who has denounced Prince Andrew for a long time, filed a civil lawsuit in New York against the member of the British royal family,

claiming that he abused her when she was 17 years old

.

Virginia Giuffre's attorneys filed the lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan, where Epstein was charged with sex trafficking in August 2019, a month before he committed suicide at age 66 in federal jail where he awaited trial.

Giuffre has repeatedly denounced Epstein, his ex-partner Ghislaine Maxwell and Andrew, but the lawsuit marks the first time formal charges have been filed against Andrew, increasing public pressure on the prince.

Virginia Giuffre, who claims was the victim of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in an Aug. 27, 2019, file photo.

Giuffre said in a statement that he was

"holding Prince Andrew responsible for what he did to me."

“The powerful and rich are not exempt from being held accountable for their actions.

I hope that other victims see that it is possible not to live in silence and fear, but to recover life by speaking out and demanding justice, "added Giuffre.

[A millionaire falls from grace and his employees tell the true story of their 'island of pedophilia']

"I did not make this decision lightly. As a mother and wife, my family comes first, and I know that this action will subject me to further attacks by Prince Andrew and his acolytes, but I knew if I did not take this action. , I would be letting them down and the victims everywhere, "he added.

The lawsuit alleges that the prince abused her at Maxwell's London residence,

when she and Epstein forced her to have sex with him

. 

Ghislaine Maxwell, ex-partner of Jeffrey Epstein, accused of child sex trafficking

March 30, 202100: 35

On another occasion the prince allegedly abused her at Epstein's New York mansion, when Maxwell forced her and another victim to sit on his legs while touching them without her consent.

The lawsuit also claims that Andrew abused Giuffre on Epstein's private island in the Virgin Islands.

At the end of 2019, Andrew assured in an interview with the British public channel BBC that he never had sexual relations with Giuffre.

"It didn't happen," he

emphasized.

Prince Andrew of England on April 11, 2021.AP

The prince, whose friendship with Epstein has caused great controversy, admitted to having stayed several times - about four - in the businessman's residences in the United States, but that at no time did he suspect that there was inappropriate behavior on his part.

Dido who met Epstein through Maxwell, daughter of the late press mogul Robert Maxwell, who has also been arrested and is awaiting trial in New York scheduled for November this year, when she will face various charges, among which those of sex trafficking stand out.

[Affidavits come to light from Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's assistant accused of sexual abuse.

This is what he said]

When asked in the interview about

a photo made public in which he appears clutching Giuffre's waist

, allegedly taken at Maxwell's London residence in March 2011, when the applicant was 17 years old, the Duke stated that he did not I remembered that moment.

With the lawsuit, the Duke of York could be forced to be questioned under oath, as well as deliver text messages, emails or private letters related to the case.

With information from EFE and The Associated Press.