Prince Andrew, Alan Dershowitz: dismiss "sex ring" case

NEW YORK, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Prominent criminal defense attorney Alan Dershowitz took steps to dismiss claims filed in federal court that he had sex with an underage girl in a sex ring run by investment banker Jeffrey Epstein. Dershowitz asked the court to "strike the allegations made against him."

Dershowitz and Britain's Prince Andrew, also called the Duke of York, are among those named in a federal lawsuit for allegedly having sex with teen girls contacted through Epstein, a self-made billionaire who pleaded guilty in Florida to charges of prostitution solicitation. Epstein was released from prison in 2009.

Dershowitz, a Harvard University professor emeritus and once part of O.J. Simpson's criminal-defense Dream Team, and Prince Andrew have repeatedly denied the allegations. Prince Andrew does not plan to file any legal action, CNN reported. Dershowitz filed the motion in the Florida federal court to "protect his reputation" against the "outrageously false" accusations, the Washington Post reported.

Virginia Roberts, identified in court papers as Jane Doe No. 3, named both men and others in the lawsuit, saying Epstein loaned her out to "many other powerful men, including numerous prominent American politicians, powerful business executives, foreign presidents, a well-known prime minister, and other world leaders."

Roberts said Dershowitz is trying to bully and silence her.