The Surprising Reason Prince Andrew's Attorneys Want His Case Dismissed

If you've been following the royal fallout surrounding Prince Andrew's involvement with the late Jeffrey Epstein, you're likely aware of how stop and start the proceedings have been. After remaining in hiding for some time, Queen Elizabeth's second-oldest son is facing the music for sexual assault allegations from one of Epstein's victims. Virginia Roberts Giuffre alleges that Prince Andrew sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions, something the royal has adamantly denied. Now, his lawyers are asking for the charges to be dismissed. 

Andrew is being charged in New York by Giuffre, who stated that she was trafficked by Epstein and allegedly forced to perform sex acts with Andrew while she was underage. Her account includes instances of sexual assault in London, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Now that proceedings are being held in New York, Andrew's lawyers say that her claims violate a settlement agreement with Epstein where she agreed to a "general release" of information, per CNN. They are pushing to have the charges dismissed on this basis and the filing urging the court to do so has been released to the public. 

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

In their filing made on Friday, Prince Andrew's lawyers state that the royal "unequivocally denies [Virginia Roberts] Giuffre's false allegations against him," and while she "may well be a victim of sexual abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein," Prince Andrew was not involved. "However, and without diminishing the harm suffered as a result of Epstein's alleged misconduct, Prince Andrew never sexually abused or assaulted Giuffre," the filing reads (via CNN). Additionally, Andrew's attorneys accuse Giuffre of "selling stories and photographs to the press" and engaging in "secret agreements" to settle. "Accusing a member of the world's best known royal family of serious misconduct has helped Giuffre create a media frenzy online and in the traditional press," they wrote in the filing. "Epstein's abuse of Giuffre does not justify her public campaign against Prince Andrew."

Andrew has remained firm in his insistence that he never assaulted Giuffre and members of his own family have come forward to defend his innocence. Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson spoke with People about her relationship with Andrew, including his current controversy. "Whatever challenges he has, I will stand firm to the co-parenters that we are together," she said. "I believe that he's a kind, good man, and he's been a fabulous father to the girls."

While Andrew may have the support of his family behind him, it is up to the courts to decide his fate. Filings to dismiss the charges may not be enough.