PRINCE Andrew’s disastrous Newsnight interview is evidence of his “guilt”, lawyers for his sex assault accuser claimed last night.
He was also accused of “victim shaming” after his legal team launched a blistering personal attack on Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
The Duke of York sparked fury with a legal filing in October that branded Virginia a “money-hungry sex kitten” who was only suing him for “another pay day”.
LA attorney Andrew Brettler also claimed she was “head b***h” in Epstein’s trafficking ring and worked with Ghislaine Maxwell to find him victims.
David Boies, Virginia’s lawyer, hit back yesterday in a court filing in New York opposing Andrew’s motion to dismiss.
He blasted the royal for using his defence of her lawsuit as a “press release” to trash her “credibility, character and motives”.
He said it “lacks foundation in fact and continues (Andrew’s) efforts to avoid confronting his own misconduct by attempting to blame and shame his victim”.
Mr Boies added: “(Andrew’s) motion was intended to be, and was extensively used as, a press release to attack Ms Giuffre in the media.
“(Andrew) dared to make his baseless, defamatory attacks on Ms Giuffre in his motion only because doing so in a court filing insulated him from the libel lawsuit that would otherwise result.”
Mr Boies also refers to the Duke’s car crash BBC Newsnight interview in 2019 – which saw him banished from royal duties.
He wrote: “During that interview, Prince Andrew said that he could not recall ever meeting Ms Giuffre, a denial so at odds with photographs and other evidence that it is itself indicative of guilt.”
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.
And he claimed a photo of him with his arm round Virginia – said to have been taken in Maxwell’s home – could have been doctored as he’d never met her.
Mr Boies’ filing also blasted the Duke for “stonewalling” a US federal investigation into Epstein’s crimes, and “refusing to co-operate” with victims who are suing the late financier.
‘LENT OUT TO PRINCE’
Virginia’s lawsuit claims the Duke sexually abused her at Maxwell’s home in London at an Epstein’s homes in New York and the US Virgin Islands.
In the latest filing, Mr Boies adds Epstein “lent her out” to the royal when she was under 18.
He wrote: “During each incident, Ms Giuffre did not consent to engaging in any sexual activity with Prince Andrew, but she feared she would be harmed, and even killed, if she disobeyed Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew.
“During each incident, Prince Andrew knew that (Virginia) was a victim of sex trafficking, and intended to compel her into submission to gratify his own sexual desires.”
Andrew, 61, denies her claims. He could be made to sit for a deposition ahead of a court showdown next autumn.
Ex-wife Sarah Ferguson could also be asked to give evidence, lawyers say.
Andrew’s representatives declined to comment today.
Previously he has vehemently denied any contact with Virginia, and denies he was aware of any wrongdoing by Epstein.
His former pal Maxwell, 59, went on trial this week in Manhattan accused of trafficking young girls for Epstein, who killed himself in 2019.
Yesterday Epstein’s pilot said Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump all flew on his “Lolita Express” private jet.
