Today, the BBC admitted that a BBC live interview with Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-lawyer Alan Dershowitz regarding Ghislaine Maxiwell’s New York conviction was an error.
Bosses launched a probe after the broadcaster failed to mention that Mr Dershowitz had represented Epstein – and is also accused of sex assault by Virginia Giuffre. In an interview on BBC News Channel, he described himself as a lawyer.
He was today admitted by the BBC that he was not a “suitable person” to interview for impartial analysis and that it didn’t make his background known to its audience.
The move comes after an MP claimed that the BBC shouldn’t provide a platform for child sexual abuse suspects and condemned Dershowitz as attempting to silence victims.
BBC spokeswoman said, “The interview with Alan Dershowitz, following the GhislaineMaxwell verdict, did not conform to the BBC’s editorial guidelines, because Mr Dershowitz was unsuitable to be interviewed as an impartial analyst. We also did not disclose the pertinent background to our audience. This will be investigated.
Ms Giuffre had previously claimed she was loaned to Mr Dershowitz while she was minor for sex, but he vigorously denied it and stated that he never met her.
BBC called Alan Dershowitz “lawyer” without naming Jeffrey Epstein. Virginia Giuffre also accuses him.
Yesterday, Mr. Dershowitz stated in a BBC interview that Prince Andrew’s New York sex abuse case was weakened because Maxwell Trial prosecutors failed to call Prince Andrew as a witness.
He claimed that Ms Giuffre was not heard by the Maxwell jurors because she doesn’t believe the authorities are telling the truth.
Critics pointed out that Mr. Dershowitz was also accused by Ms Giuffre of sexual abuse. They said this taints their opinion and criticize the BBC for asking him about the matter without any context.
Nadia Whittome, Labour MP, said last night that Alan Dershowitz was being tried for the same crimes as Prince Andrew and is now on BBC to silence victims after Ghislaine Maxwell has been convicted.
“It’s unbelievable that this has to be said, but it is unacceptable for the BBC to give airtime to anyone accused of child sexual abuse.
“We have the responsibility to trust people when they report sexual abuse, and create the right conditions for them to do so in future.
A photograph taken by Prince with his arm wrapped around Virginia Roberts (17 years old) at Maxwell’s London mews houses in London is one example of a few mentions of the prince. This photo was not recalled by Roberts.
Epstein should publish all details about his network and ensure that justice is served on any victims/survivors. This is only the tip.
However, royal experts stated there was no way to recover Andrew’s image now that the Maxwell verdicts against him are out.
Prince Andrew and Mr Dershowitz deny any allegations.
The 83-year-old Mr. Dershowitz told BBC that he felt the case against Andrew had been ‘weakened significantly’ following the Maxwell trial.
He stated that ‘I believe the most important thing to British viewers was that the Government used very cautiously who it used for witnesses’.
It did not call as witnesses the woman that accused Prince Andrew.
“And she was actually mentioned at trial as somebody who brought young people into Epstein’s care for abuse.
“So, this case doesn’t do anything to strengthen the case against Prince Andrew.
“It weakens the case against prince Andrew significantly because it was selective about who it used.
The company used witnesses that it considered credible. They deliberately withheld Virginia Giuffre as the principal witness because she had been the one who initiated the investigation.
“They believed that no jury could believe her, and they were correct in believing so. It was very clever on the part of government.
Yesterday night was marked by condemnation for the way Mr. Dershowitz was described on the BBC News Channel as an ‘constitutional attorney’ without giving any indication of his involvement.
Prince Andrew strongly refutes Ms Giuffre’s (pictured in New York, August 27, 2019,) claims that he had slept with her 17-year old sex slave while she was being trafficked to London.
The interviewer didn’t challenge him on his statements about Ms Giuffre.
Adam Wagner, an human rights lawyer, stated that the BBC made a huge error in publishing the interview.
Experts from the Royal Court said Andrew’s reputation is a ‘busted flush’, regardless of how it turns out in his case. This was due to Andrew’s friendship with Epstein (a billionaire paedophile) and Maxwell, convicted sex-trafficker.
Andrew’s elder brother Prince Charles already considered Maxwell a liability to the Royal Family, and the jury’s verdict that Maxwell was willingly complicit in the death of Epstein will put him beyond reproach.
The Duke of York’s lawyers will try to have the civil lawsuit brought by his accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre thrown out of court early next month.
The result of last night will be more complicated.
And royal observers believe that even a victory for Andrew at that stage – or at a full trial expected in the Autumn – would still not be enough to remove the stigma attached to his name over his friendship with Epstein.
The sensational Maxwell verdict will not have helped Andrew to gain confidence that Ms Giuffre would be successful in her lawsuit being dismissed.
MailOnline was told by a seasoned royal expert that he is a “busted flush”. “Unfortunately, Andrew’s problem is not so much evidence or proof of what happened to Virginia Giuffre, but rather public perception.
The Royal Family has been impacted by Andrew’s handling of the whole thing, as well as his Car Crash Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis.
The Queen has been her favourite since childhood, so she is the only one who remains loyal.
Officially Andrew says he is stepping back from royal duties as the case with the Court is over. But it is difficult for him to envision how he can once more take the place he had previously in public life.
Lisa Bloom (a lawyer representing Jeffrey Epstein’s victims) said last night that any person connected to the paedophile financier must be “concerned”.
“I believe anyone associated with Jeffrey Epstein who participated in or helped him send girls to him for trafficking, sexual abuse, etc. should be extremely concerned about today’s verdict.
Elle added, “The case [against Prince Andrew]It has been served, despite multiple attempts by him to duck service. The courts eventually ruled that he had been served and permitted him to move on.
“Now, he wants to throw out the case on technical grounds. Virginia claims she’s not a citizen of the United States and that Virginia is actually an Australian resident. The case should therefore not be heard.
“He appears to be trying to prevent the case from being decided on its merits. He hopes to have it thrown out technical grounds. We’ll wait and see what the judge decides.”
Virginia said she could have the case dismissed but Virginia claimed that she is a resident of Colorado and has excellent attorneys.
“I’m rooting for her. I hope that the case will be decided on its merits so that Prince Andrew’s dispute and his sexual assault of her can finally be settled once and for all by an impartial jury.
It is expected that this case will dominate the media in the early 2022.
Although he was an active participant as a Royal Navy Sea King Helicopter pilot during 1982 conflict, it is currently not likely that the Duke will be playing a major role in any commemorations of the Falklands war’s 40th anniversary in June.
Prince Andrew was first introduced to Ghislaine Maxwell by her university professor. The pair were friends for over 20 years and she is believed to have introduced Andrew into Epstein.
Ghislaine Maxill (left) was believed to be in a relationship with the American financier (left). Epstein then formed a friendship.
Prince Andrew, a veteran, would have the right to attend all events marking the capture of Port Stanley. However, it seems that there has been no formal invitation.
Prince Andrew was frequently mentioned by the prosecution in the trial, as a friend of Epstein and Maxwell, a visitor to the billionaire’s townhouse in Manhattan and his private island Little St James – and as having travelled at least four times on the infamous ‘Lolita Express’, Epstein’s private jet.
A photograph taken by Prince William with his arm wrapped around Virginia Roberts (17 years old) at Maxwell’s London mews houses in London is one example of a few references to him. This occasion he denies he remembers.
Prince Andrew strongly refutes Ms Giuffre’s claims that he had slept with her 17 years ago as a sex slave. She claimed she was trafficked to him at London House. The photo may have been faked according to some sources.
However, his team was relieved that Ms Giuffre wasn’t summoned to testify during Maxwell’s trial.
At a Saturday hearing, Maxwell’s lawyers were mocked by the prosecutors. They said they could invite Ms Giuffre on the stand but chose to not. Andrew Rohrbach declared: “The most obvious witness that was available to both parties and on whom we expect the defense to comment is Virginia Roberts. She was described as an innocent victim, but she did not testify. And she was completely available to all the defendants. They didn’t call her.
A source close to the Duke told MailOnline: ‘This was Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial – not the Duke’s. Nothing new of any substance has been raised in relation to the Duke – any mentions have been glancing blows, not body blows.’
Prince Andrew met Maxwell for the first time when Maxwell was studying at University. The pair were close friends for almost 20 years before Maxwell introduced them to Epstein.
The American financier and she were thought to have been dating. Epstein later formed a close friendship.
He supposedly visited Epstein’s home and Island multiple times during this relationship.
Those who have known Prince Andrew for decades say he is a victim of his own boorish, entitled arrogance and his biggest mistake – and one which many other high-profile individuals also made, not least former US Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, was to allow himself to associate with the likes of a man like Epstein at all
Andrew’s attorneys will file a motion at the New York District Court next month seeking to dismiss him. According to court filings, he “unambiguously denies” sexually assaulting or abusing Ms Giuffre.
Andrew Brettler, his lawyer stated in court papers that Giuffre’s accusation of a member the most well-known royal family in the world of serious misconduct had helped to create an online media frenzy and traditional press.
“It is regrettable, but not inadmissible, that sensationalism, and innuendo, have triumphed over reality.
“Giuffre initiated this unfounded lawsuit against Prince Andrew in order to make another income at his expense, and the expense of others closest to him Epstein’s abuse of Giuffre doesn’t justify her public campaign to defeat Prince Andrew.”
Those who have known Prince Andrew for decades say he is a victim of his own boorish, entitled arrogance and his biggest mistake – and one which many other high-profile individuals also made, not least former US Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, was to allow himself to associate with the likes of a man like Epstein at all.
“Andrew is currently out in the cold and will likely stay there,” said one of the many people who have met him over the years. “He can’t care less about himself, and that makes him resentful.”
“I do not think that we will see him again in the future regardless of what happens in New York’s civil case. He’ll be unable to shake this stigma.
He’s expected to remain a lonely figure, riding around Windsor Great Park with the Queen and perhaps assisting her behind-the scenes. However it’s unlikely we will see him again doing public engagements.