A Scottish victim of Jeffrey Epstein who claimed sex tapes were taken of the Duke of York, former US president Bill Clinton and billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson says she stands by the allegations revealed in court documents.
It comes as a US judge ordered hundreds of documents to be unsealed as part of Virginia Giuffre’s previously settled civil claim against British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, which was filed in 2015.
Sarah Ransome, daughter of the second Baron of Drumochter, who gave a victim impact statement ahead of the sentencing of Maxwell for sex-trafficking, appeared to write communications claiming the three were filmed by the paedophile financier.
All three men have denied any wrongdoing.
On behalf of Mr Branson, a Virgin Group spokeswoman said: “In a New Yorker report published in 2019, Ransome admitted that she had ‘invented’ the tapes.
“We can confirm that Sarah Ransome’s claims are baseless and unfounded.”
Andrew stepped down from public life after the furore over his friendship with Epstein, and paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Ms Giuffre, a woman he claimed never to have met.
He was cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17.
New York State Sex Offender RegistryThe duke strenuously denies any wrongdoing.
Ms Ransome had previously withdrawn her claim about the tapes, but speaking in an exclusive interview on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, she said she only backtracked in fear of being harmed by Epstein.
Ms Ransome said: “There are videos that exist.
“The people that know they exist I’m sure are very frightened of them being released.”
She continued: “It’s no secret that everything was recorded.
“Multiple victims have come forward confirming my account, along with others.
US District Court for the Southern District of New York/US Department of Justice“I’ve also seen recordings in his office.”
No evidence of the tapes has ever emerged.
Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan, New York, in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex-trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.
Maxwell has been imprisoned since July 2020 despite attempts by her defence counsel to have her released on bail.
She was sentenced to 20 years in prison at the federal court in the Southern District of New York in June 2022.
The socialite indicated her desire to appeal shortly after her conviction, with her lawyers claiming victims had “faded, distorted and motivated memories”.
Her appeal is scheduled to be heard in November next year.
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