Ghislaine Maxwell's brother Ian claims Prince Andrew has been 'cancelled' as a member of the Royal Family on 'dubious grounds' and hopes his sister will be 'exonerated so that she can help his case'
The Duke of York has been 'cancelled' as a member of the Royal Family on 'dubious grounds', Ghislaine Maxwell's brother has claimed.
Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's ex-girlfriend, is facing trial in New York for allegedly recruiting minors for the disgraced paedophile financier to sexually abuse from 1994 to 2004. She denies the allegations.
Her brother Ian Maxwell today said that he hopes that she will be 'exonerated at the end of her trial and that that will in some way assist Prince Andrew clear his own name from the charges that he too is facing'.
Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari today, Mr Maxwell was also asked if he had ever discussed his sister's friendship with the Queen's son. He replied: 'I met Prince Andrew at my sister's home on a couple of occasions, so I didn't really need to talk to her about it.
'I knew they were friends, and he's found himself in this terrible position where he's effectively been ''cancelled'' as a member of the Royal Family, I think on very dubious grounds.
'So I hope that clearly my sister will be exonerated at the end of her trial and that that will in some way assist Prince Andrew clear his own name from the charges that he too is facing – although those are civil charges – from a very vocal accuser of both of them – who, I might add, is not testifying at the trial, which tells you all you need to know about her credibility.'
The Duke of York has been 'effectively ''cancelled'' as a member of the Royal Family' on 'dubious grounds', Maxwell's brother has claimed
Media outside the court room where the Ghislaine Maxwell trial will start today
Giuffre (right with Prince Andrew), has been one of Epstein's most vocal accusers but she will not be testifying at Maxwell's trial
Virginia Giuffre, who has filed a related civil lawsuit against Andrew but is not part of the criminal case against Maxwell, has described Epstein's former 'madam' as a 'Mary Poppins' figure who made young girls feel comfortable as they were being lured into the paedophile's web.
She alleges that Epstein lent her out for sex with his wealthy and powerful associates, including Andrew, when she was 17. Maxwell, a friend of the royal, is known to have introduced the prince to Epstein.
Ms Giuffre has sued the duke in New York, alleging he had sex with her more than 20 years ago when she was a minor under US law. That civil lawsuit is expected to be heard before a jury in late 2022. Andrew has not been criminally charged and has 'unequivocally' denied the allegations.
Epstein died in a Brooklyn jail in 2019 as he was held on charges of the sex trafficking of minors in Florida and New York.
Maxwell has been in a US jail since her arrest in July last year. Her brother previously said his sister is in 'effective isolation' at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, where she is being held in a 6ft by 9ft cell that has no natural light and is equipped with a toilet and a concrete bed.
Maxwell was a wealthy socialite, moving in elite circles until she virtually disappeared from public view in 2016 after Virginia Roberts - Epstein's main accuser - filed a lawsuit against her (pictured, Epstein and Maxwell in New York in 2015)
Ghislaine was close to her father, Robert Maxwell, prior to his untimely death in 1991. The pair are pictured together in 1990Court documents suggest Maxwell will challenge the accusations against her by claiming the alleged victims may have 'false or distorted memories'.
The full indictment against her lists six charges, including conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts and conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Maxwell is also accused of transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, sex trafficking conspiracy, and sex trafficking of a minor.
The defendant is further alleged to have lied under oath by hiding her participation in Epstein's offences during a separate civil case.
She denies all charges.
Opening statements in the trial are due to begin on Monday and the trial is expected to last for six weeks.
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