Prince Charles’ former aide denies introducing student to Jeffrey Epstein on a study trip before billionaire paedophile abused her
- Eileen Guggenheim, 69, is the current dean of the New York Academy of Art
- She has been accused of introducing a former student to Jeffrey Epstein
- Ms Guggenheim strongly denied the claims and denied visiting Epstein’s ranch
- Maria Farmer, 50, alleged she flew to Epstein’s New Mexico ranch in 1995
Prince Charles‘ former aide has denied introducing a student to Jeffrey Epstein before the billionaire paedophile went on to abuse her.
Eileen Guggenheim, the former Prince’s Trust vice-chair and current dean of the New York Academy of Art, was accused of encouraging a student to flirt with Epstein because he was a big donor.
Ms Guggenheim has strongly denied the claims.
Maria Farmer, 50, alleged she flew to Epstein’s New Mexico ranch in 1995 for a study trip where she claims Guggenheim ‘asked me to sit on his lap and flirt with him… ‘Do it for the academy, Maria”, reported the Daily Mirror.
Eileen Guggenheim (pictured in April 2018), the former Prince’s Trust vice-chair and current dean of the New York Academy of Art, was accused of encouraging a student to flirt with Epstein because he was a big donor
Guggenheim’s lawyers said: ‘The allegation Ms Guggenheim encouraged Ms Farmer to flirt and sit on Epstein’s knee is categorically denied and completely baseless.’
A report by the NYAA insisted Ms Guggenheim, 69, played ‘no role’ in introducing Maria and her younger sister Annie to Epstein, concluding there was ‘no evidence to credibly support’ the claims.
Maria says both she and her sister were later abused by the paedophile.
Another student who went to the Zorro Ranch in Santa Fe the same year said the young women were pressured into games with ‘sexual objects’.
Ms Guggenheim originally denied ever being at the ranch but later said she had visited during construction work.
Maria Farmer (pictured), 50, alleged she flew to Epstein’s New Mexico ranch in 1995 for a study trip where she claims Guggenheim ‘asked me to sit on his lap and flirt with him… ‘Do it for the academy, Maria”
When Farmer, Ursula Ruedenberg, and another victim went public with the claims, Guggenheim said she saw the property under construction but ‘did not visit any home there or have a meal there’.
Her lawyers said: ‘Ms Farmer’s claims with regard to the ranch are inconsistent and have changed over time.
‘Ms Guggenheim’s visit was very brief; she took a tour of the grounds with the former students and left shortly thereafter. That explains her initial failure to recollect having ever travelled to the ranch.
A report by the NYAA insisted Ms Guggenheim, 69, played ‘no role’ in introducing Maria and her younger sister Annie to Epstein (pictured in 2017), concluding there was ‘no evidence to credibly support’ the claims
‘It was only after seeing a photograph which depicted Ms Guggenheim, Ms Farmer, and three former students during the daylight… on the grounds, that she recalled her brief visit.’
Guggenheim said: ‘Had any student expressed to me their personal discomfort over actions by Mr Epstein I would have immediately addressed the situation and offered my support.’
An open letter signed by nearly 100 students and alumni last month slammed its ‘victim-blaming rhetoric’.
It said the academy’s response was to ‘focus on discrediting Farmer’s testimony rather than delving into Epstein’s involvement with the NYAA board, financial ties to the school or his relationship to Guggenheim’.
The Academy’s executive committee apologised to Farmer and vowed to give £22,650 to a charity for victims of sexual assault.
The board said: ‘Some conclusions in the report blamed Ms Farmer, and we regret they were included.’