Ghislaine Maxwell is alleged to have been formally questioned about Prince Andrew for the primary time throughout a marathon nine-hour assembly with the US Deputy Legal professional Basic.
The 63-year-old was interviewed about her former pal the Duke of York as he got here up in a ‘laundry listing’ of greater than 100 folks linked to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Maxwell, who’s serving a 20-year sentence for intercourse trafficking, answered all the questions ‘truthfully and honestly’, based on a supply.
Epstein’s former girlfriend is just not thought to have beforehand been formally questioned about Prince Andrew.
It isn’t identified what solutions she gave, though it’s reported ‘she desires the reality to return out.’
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A supply stated: ‘That is the primary time anybody has requested Ghislaine about any of the lads.
‘She advised the reality and didn’t again away from any questions.
‘She desires the reality to return out.’
The Duke has at all times strenuously denied allegations by Virginia Giuffre that he sexually abused her when she was aged simply 17 and whereas she was the sufferer of billionaire Epstein’s intercourse trafficking ring.
The senior royal paid a multi-million sum to Ms Giuffre in an out-of-court settlement, with no admission of wrongdoing.
She died by suicide earlier this 12 months.
Maxwell has continued to be on the centre of the Epstein scandal as she serves 20 years at Tallahassee Federal Jail in Florida for her half within the intercourse trafficking ring.
The 2-day assembly with the US Deputy Legal professional Basic Todd Blanche happened this week on the orders of Donald Trump, who’s presently on a non-public go to to his golf programs in Scotland.
The US president has been engulfed within the saga by promising to launch the complete Epstein Information earlier than failing to take action.
The questioning of Maxwell is a part of the Justice Division’s effort to dispel backlash over the Trump administration’s dealing with of the information.
A supply advised the Mail on Sunday: ‘Ghislaine has by no means advised her story to anybody in authorities earlier than. At occasions it was very emotional however she answered each query requested of her.
‘The restricted immunity deal is a big threat for her as a result of this case is so politicised she solely has immunity as long as she hasn’t lied.
‘She answered the whole lot honestly however she is taking a threat.
‘She was requested a couple of laundry listing of individuals together with Prince Andrew, Invoice Gates, Les Wexner, Invoice Clinton, Alan Dershowitz, Leon Black and a who’s who of highly effective Wall Road moneymen and financiers.
‘There have been Silicon Valley names in there together with world leaders, different non-British royals apart from Andrew and well-known names from the world of showbusiness.
‘It’s ironic that Elon Musk kicked this complete factor off when he fell out with Trump after which made that put up on X about Trump allegedly stopping the discharge of the complete Epstein paperwork as some form of “cover-up”.
‘Properly, Elon is in there, as is his brother.
‘It was a monumental second for Ghislaine to lastly be requested about these folks and to inform the reality.’
Maxwell is because of have a brand new plea for an attraction earlier than the US Supreme Court docket submitted tomorrow. She has been known as to testify earlier than a Congressional Committee on August 11.
The supply stated: ‘After all she desires a pardon, what prisoner doesn’t?
‘However that isn’t one thing which has been mentioned.
‘The president may commute her sentence in return for her cooperation. Nobody is aware of what is going to occur now. Todd Blanche will sit down with president Trump when he returns from Scotland and that’s when the discussions about any potential deal will happen.’
Prince Andrew reached the settlement with Ms Giuffre in February 2022, with the settlement being made on a with out legal responsibility standing — which means it doesn’t quantity to an request for forgiveness.
On the time, Andrew pledged to ‘display his remorse for his affiliation with Epstein’ by supporting the ‘combat towards the evils of intercourse trafficking, and by supporting its victims’.
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