- By Abhirupa Kundu
- Sat, 06 Jan 2024 10:31 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The unsealing of Jeffrey Epstein's court files has stirred up several controversies linking up influential American politicians and global personalities to the cesspool of sexual abuse. In a recent revelation, it was accused that Prince Andrew, who has been bereft of most of his royal titles, participated in an orgy with "numerous under-aged girls" at the private island owned by sex* offender Epstein.
King Charles III's younger brother is one among the high-profile figures which include former American president Bill Clinton and Stephen Hawkings, all of them named in Epstein's sexual abuse court documents.
However, Buckingham Palace denied allegations by the woman who said in Florida court documents that she was forced as a minor to have sex* with Britain's Prince Andrew and other high-profile figures linked to a wealthy US businessman.
The woman, referred to as "Jane Doe #3" in legal papers filed this week in the US Southern District of Florida, said financier Jeffrey Epstein made her have sex* with the Duke of York in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island, as part of "an orgy with numerous other under-aged girls," according to the filings.
The records released Friday include the 2009 deposition of a former housekeeper at Epstein's home in Palm Beach, Florida, who talked about how much time the financier spent with Prince Andrew, the British royal who was a longtime friend of Maxwell's.
Juan Alessi testified that “Prince Andrew spent weeks with us” and when he visited, he would receive daily massages at the mansion.
Alessi said Andrew would stay in the main guest bedroom, which he described as “the blue room.” He recalled seeing Andrew's former wife, Sarah Ferguson, on one occasion, but added, “I don't think she slept in there.”
Alessi also remembered seeing other celebrities including Donald Trump and “a lot of queens and other famous people that I can't remember.”
Trump, whose Mar-a-Lago club is also in Palm Beach, would come over to Epstein's home for dinner, Alessi said, but he “never sat at the table,” dining instead with Alessi in the kitchen. Asked whether Trump ever received massages, he said, “No. Because he's got his own spa.”
Alessi, who worked at Epstein's sprawling home from 1990 to 2002, previously testified at Maxwell's 2021 trial that he saw “many, many, many” young adult female visitors, often lounging topless by the pool. He also admitted to stealing $6,300 from Epstein's desk.
Prince Andrew was publicly criticized when photos emerged of him visiting Epstein in New York even after the financier was imprisoned in Florida for a sex* crime.
Giuffre sued Andrew, accusing him of sexually abusing her when she was 17. Andrew said he didn't remember ever meeting Giuffre. The lawsuit was settled in 2022 without ever going to trial, but the allegations damaged his public standing and led Andrew to withdraw from some royal duties.
The Associated Press typically does not name people who say they are the victims of sexual abuse unless they have come forward publicly with their stories, as Giuffre has.
(With agency inputs)