VIRGINIA Giuffre feared losing millions in a court battle with another Jeffrey Epstein victim in the lead up to her death, her friend has claimed.
The 41-year-old was in the midst of a potentially costly legal battle at the time of her death by suicide last month in Australia.
Giuffre was being sued by artist Rina Oh for falsely describing her as a girlfriend of Epstein as well as one of the sex offender’s recruiters.
The lawsuit will pass on to her estate under New York law.
Sources close to Giuffre have told The Mirror: “Virginia was extremely distressed in the weeks before she died.
“She felt like everything she had fought so hard for was going or gone.”
The source added that she had become depressed in the week leading up to her death over the collapse of her marriage and losing her children.
Giuffre is believed to have received a substantial sum of money – reported to be £12 million – in an out-of-court settlement from Prince Andrew.
She had accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.
Who was Virginia Giuffre?
Virginia Roberts, who later changed her name to Virginia Giuffre, was a well-known victim of the sex trafficking ring run by Jeffrey Epstein. She was an American-Australian activist who gained prominence for her involvement in the case.
She made claims against Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, as well as Brit socialite Ghislaine Maxwell – Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-lover.
In court documents, Giuffre claimed that Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of disgraced tycoon Robert Maxwell, had recruited her as a teenage “sex slave” for Epstein. This allegation shed light on the disturbing activities orchestrated by the individuals involved in the scandal.
Prior to Epstein’s death, Giuffre unveiled a manuscript that contributed to over 2,000 documents filed in a lawsuit against the former financier and his associates. This revelation further exposed the deep-rooted corruption and abuse of power within the trafficking ring.
The legal documents were released in a defamation case involving Giuffre, who has claimed in court documents that Prince Andrew slept with her three times.
In 2019, Virginia Roberts claimed that she had sex with Prince Andrew in a toilet when she was 17, after a night where he had allegedly been plying her with vodka in a posh London club.
On February 15, 2022, it was announced that Prince Andrew settled the lawsuit – sparing him a humiliating court battle.
The Duke of York has repeatedly denied the claims.
In addition to the claims about Epstein, tweets in Giuffre’s name issued accusations of physical assault against Oh.
Oh has denied the allegations against her and says that she was also a victim of Epstein’s abuse.
In the court filing, her lawyer said: “Considering the high profile nature of the Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew story, [Giuffre] knew that accusing [Oh], a fellow victim, of such horrible things, would maximise the spread and harm and damage to [Oh].
“[Giuffre] has maliciously reiterated and republished these defamations and slanders in prior and subsequent tweets and interviews on podcasts, TV and for magazines, as well as in her memoirs entitled Billionaire’s Playboy Club.
“These defamations and slanders by Defendant are causing [Oh] great harm.”
Oh’s lawsuit is expected to be used by Prince Andrew to attack Giuffre, who sued the Duke in 2021 for sex abuse.
It is widely reported that a $12 million settlement was reached, although the figure has been disputed.
Three weeks before Giuffre’s death, the New York State Appellate Court denied her motion to dismiss one of Oh’s civil lawsuits.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
