MEGHAN Markle could give evidence in the sex case being brought against Prince Andrew by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, her lawyer has said.
David Boies reportedly believes the Duchess of Sussex has “important knowledge” and can be relied on to “tell the truth” about the royal’s behaviour.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre, now 38, is suing Andrew, alleging he sexually assaulted her in New York, London and on Jeffrey Epstein’s private island when she was 17
She has spoken about being abused by multi-millionaire Epstein and alleges the paedophile and Ghislaine Maxwell introduced her to the royal.
The Duke of York has strenuously denied any wrongdoing and strongly refuted the allegations made in the lawsuit.
Boies has now told The Daily Beast that Meghan could be served with a deposition to give evidence in the case.
“She is somebody we can count on to tell the truth,” he said.
He said since the Duchess of Sussex lives in the US “we have jurisdiction over her” and “at least for a period of time, was a close associate of Prince Andrew”.
The lawyer argued she is “in a position to perhaps have seen what he did, and perhaps if not to have seen what he did to have heard people talk about it”.
“Because of her past association with him, she may very well have important knowledge, and will certainly have some knowledge,” he said.
A judge recently ordered that a settlement between Virginia and Epstein, which the royal thinks will exonerate him, be made public.
The 2009 agreement will be released on January 3, unless “good cause” can be shown otherwise.
Boies said that if Virginia’s case gets past that challenge, then the Duke of York himself could also have to give evidence under oath.
“Andrew will be forced to give evidence under oath. He has no way of escaping that,” he said.
“We would likely take one or two depositions of people close to Andrew who would have knowledge of his actions.
“That might include his ex-wife. It could possibly be his brother.”
But he added: “I don’t think, out of respect and deference, and her age, we would seek to depose the queen.”
Prince Andrew and Virginia were photographed with his arm around her in Maxwell’s house in London.
In what was described as a car crash interview with the BBC in 2019, the Prince’s claimed he never met her and the photo was doctored.
Andrew famously claimed in the interview he was medically unable to perspire, a response to Virginia’s account of an alleged sweaty dance in London.
The criticism over what was seen as a failure to fully explain his relationship with Epstein saw him banished from royal duties.
Epstein hanged himself in prison in New York in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking offences.
Prince Andrew and the Duchess of Sussex have been approached for comment.
