Billionaire investor Jeffery Epstein's death has opened the proverbial pandora's box. The American financier died in prison where he was detained and was awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. The money manager who hobnobbed with influencers like Donald Trump and Bill Gates allegedly ran a sex-trafficking ring, where he would often use girls as young as 14 as sex slaves to some of his rich and famous clients.
also read
Queen Elizabeth's middle son Prince Andrew is known to be in Epstein's power circle too and has been accused of sexual misconduct at an Epstein-orchestrated gathering. The victim, Virginia Guiffre has challenged the royal to speak up. She said, “He knows exactly what he's done and I hope he comes clean about it”.
Prince Andrew had been a years-long friend of the financier, but the prince strenuously denies any knowledge of criminal behaviour by Epstein and has described himself as “appalled” by allegations from many women who accused Epstein of sexual abuse.
The British media had widely reported Giuffre's comments focusing further on the 59-year-old prince whose 10-year marriage with Sarah Ferguson ended in divorce in 1996, three years before the prince says he first met Epstein.
The prince, who served in the Royal Navy said last week that he saw Epstein “infrequently and probably no more than only once or twice a year. I have stayed in a number of his residences.” A exists in court records showing Andrew with his arm around Giuffre's waist. Brad Edwards, a lawyer representing Epstein accusers, said “I personally extended that invitation to Prince Andrew multiple times. Anytime, we are ready and we have a lot of questions for him,” indicating that he would welcome Andrew's help in trying to ensure that Epstein's abuse victims got justice.
On August 27, several women were allowed to testify at the Manhattan federal court about the ordeal they went through at hands of Epstein. "He robbed me of my dreams, of my chance to pursue a career I adored," said survivor Jennifer Araoz, who called Epstein a predator, paedophile and a thief. Another survivor, who chose to testify as Joan Doe, said her decision to go to Epstein's ranch as the “end of my childhood”.
The survivors, nearly all of them, while testifying insisted that the investigations of charges of sexual abuse against Epstein must not end because of his death, especially since other rich and powerful people were involved in Epstein's racket and helped him.
