NEW YORK — The U.S. judge overseeing the lawsuit alleging Prince Andrew sexually assaulted a teenager decades ago asked U.K. and Australian authorities for assistance questioning potential witnesses in those countries.
U.S. District Court Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan on Monday sent a formal request to a U.K. court to facilitate Virginia Giuffre’s subpoena for the testimony of Shukri Walker, who has previously said in media interviews that she saw Andrew with a young girl at London’s Tramp Nightclub in 2001.
According to Giuffre’s suit against Andrew, she danced with him at the club around that time, after being taken there by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell when she was 17. Giuffre claims the British royal was one of several powerful men to whom Epstein “lent” her out for sexual abuse.
Andrew has consistently denied her claims.
Giuffre is also seeking the testimony in the U.K. of Robert Olney, Andrew’s former assistant, whose name was found in one of Epstein’s so-called Black Books. Giuffre argues that Olney is likely to have “relevant information” about the prince’s travel to and from Epstein’s various properties and his relationship with Epstein and Maxwell, who was convicted last month of sex-trafficking for her role procuring girls for Epstein.
Kaplan on Monday also asked legal authorities in Australia for help with material concerning Giuffre’s residency there. Andrew’s lawyers have cited that to argue that U.S. courts don’t have jurisdiction over her claims.
The judge said Andrew and his lawyers would bear all costs of the Australia request, highlighting the financial burden the litigation is placing on Queen Elizabeth II’s second son. A number of experts have said Andrew’s legal costs are likely to outstrip his estimated $6.8 million personal fortune.
