Prince Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson visited Jeffrey Epstein's Florida mansion at least once. according to court documents released Friday.
Juan 'John' Alessi, who worked at Epstein's Palm Beach home for about ten years in the 1990s, testified in 2009 that he had seen Ferguson visit the house with the Duke of York, although only "for a short time." ".
If true, the claim adds new details to the relationship between the Duchess of York and the disgraced financier. who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
Mr. Alessi's testimony was It was first made public years ago.but their reference to Ms Ferguson appears to have gone unnoticed until this week, when they were reproduced as part of a torrent of newly unsealed court documents.
The archives contain over 100 mentions of Andrew.who has been accused of sexual assault but strenuously denies any wrongdoing.
The independent has sought comment from Ms Ferguson through her charity Sarah's Trust.
Ferguson, who divorced Andrew in 1996 but has remained close since then. has been criticized for a long time for his association with Epstein.
The well-connected financier once gave her £15,000 to help her pay off her debts, in a transaction that later called "giant mistake".
Last May, The Daily Mail reported that Ferguson had visited Epstein in New York City in February 2010, while he was still under house arrest for having sex with underage girls.
In his testimony, Alessi said that both the Duchess and the Duke of York were "friends" of Epstein and had also visited his home in Florida together.
Asked if they ever received massages during their stay there, Mr Alessi said: "Prince Andrew did. I think Sarah was there only once and for a short time."
"I don't think she slept there. I don't remember. I think she was visiting Wellington and she came to the house and we met her.
"But Prince Andrew, yes. Prince Andrew spent weeks with us."
