Featured Image Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/eenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre
Mia Williams
Topics: Donald Trump, Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre
Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing.
Donald Trump has broken his silence after Virginia Giuffre, the woman who accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault, took her own life following the 'toll of the abuse'.
Virginia Giuffre's family confirmed on Saturday (26 April) that she had died at the age of 41.
In a statement, they said: "It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia. She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking."
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They added: "Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors.
"In the end, the toll of abuse is so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight."
Throughout her life, Giuffre claimed that she was trafficked to senior royal family member Prince Andrew by convicted sex traffickers Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell when she was under the age of 18.
Giuffre, who was originally from California, US, alleged that she was initially hired as a masseuse for Epstein, a convicted pedophile, but was consequently trafficked to men while she was 17 and 18.
In 2001 at Epstein's New York apartment, she accused both Epstein and Maxwell of forcing her to have sex with Prince Andrew, and that he had also subjected her to 'battery'.
Despite having a former friendship with Epstein, US president Donald Trump has spoken out after learning of the sad news of her passing on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters at New Jersey Airport, the 78-year-old said: "That whole situation is very sad - her and others. Certainly, that’s a horrible thing."
Giuffre leaves behind three children, who were described as the 'light of her life'.
Epstein took his own life in August 2019 while awaiting his trial on sex trafficking charges, which involved dozens of teenage girls and other young women.
Prince Andrew has never admitted to any wrongdoing, but paid around £3 million to settle the sexual assault case, despite claiming to have never met Giuffre.
Western Australia Police have declared that her death is under investigation, but they do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances.
Earlier this month, Giuffre claimed she was involved in a near-fatal traffic collision, in which she claimed she had just four days to live.
Taking to Instagram, she said: "This year has been the worst start to a new year."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123.