“He knows what happened, I know what happened and there’s only one of us telling the truth,“Virginia Giuffresays in a BBC interview scheduled to air Monday. The networkshared a 20-second previewof the interview on Thursday.
“It was a really scary time in my life,” she says in the BBC clip.
Earlier in November, Andrew announced his decision to “step back from public dutiesfor the foreseeable future” followinghis shocking BBC Newsnight interview, in which he discussed his friendship with Epstein and denied knowing Giuffre.
Giuffre’s attorney Sigrid McCawleyresponded to the announcementin a statement to PEOPLE.
“Prince Andrew’s recent interview and his subsequent action to withdraw from public life is welcomed news. It is a positive first step towards taking responsibility for his actions,” the statement read.
“However, basing his decision to step away from his duties due to his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is only a half truth. He clearly had a long-term association with Ghislaine Maxwell who we maintain was Epstein’s co-conspirator and played a central role in devastating the lives of countless women.”
In his BBC interview, speaking about Giuffre, the Duke of York, 59, said, “I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever.” He added, “It just never happened.”
Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre.
Buckingham Palace has also issued strong denials that Giuffre was forced to have sex with Andrew, at age 17. “It is emphatically denied that The Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts,” a previous statement said. “Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation.”
During Andrew’s interview, BBC journalist Emily Maitlis raised the issue of a photograph showing the royal with his arm around Giuffre’s waist — which is thought to have been taken inside the London home of Maxwell on March 10, 2001. Giuffre was 17 at the time.
Chris Jackson/- WPA Pool/Getty.
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE‘s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
“I have absolutely no memory of that photograph ever being taken,” Andrew told Maitlis, before questioning the authenticity of the picture itself because he’s wearing his “traveling clothes” as opposed to his regular suit and tie.
The photograph was given to the FBI, who has never questioned its authenticity, Giuffre told PEOPLE in an interview earlier this year.
Ian Forsyth/Getty Images; Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan.
“It would be, to some extent, a stretch to say that as it were we were close friends,” Andrew said. “I mean, we were friends because of other people,” he said, although he acknowledged staying overnight in Epstein’s residences.
“He knows exactly what he’s done,” she said, “and I hope he comes clean.”
source: people.com
