Presidents, celebrities and royals - they were all once gathered in their little black book. Former sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence in Florida today. Because she is said to have helped, among other things, the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to abuse underage women. She is also said to have a close connection to Prince Andrew.
Since the British royal also fell into disrepute for sexual offenses and was relieved of his royal duties, Maxwell has now publicly commented on her connection to the British royal family for the first time. In two conversations with a journalist from the British "Daily Mail", Maxwell cleared up prejudice and speculation and shed new light on the dark side of Prince Andrew, Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein.
The sex trafficker once again confirms what Prince Andrew has already emphasized several times: The notorious photo, in which the prince puts his hand around the waist of the then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts, was manipulated. Maxwell can also be seen in the photo. However, experts and those affected themselves have a different opinion.
Prince Andrew has repeatedly spoken out about his friendship with the discredited investment banker Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein was indicted in 2019 for allegedly running a child sexual exploitation ring. Epstein died in prison before his trial began. Prince Andrew has not yet been prosecuted for his connections to the scene.
Among other things, because he consistently rejects any guilt. In a BBC interview, for example, the prince said he was unaware of the charges against Epstein, citing Maxwell's role as a mediator. The 60-year-old has now been in prison for a few weeks – and claims to be following what is happening with Prince Andrew.
"I worry about him," she told the Daily Mail. The fact that the prince's lawyers now deny any close connection between Andrew and Maxwell does not change that. "I accept that this friendship could not survive my conviction." And Maxwell doesn't expect anything to change.
The former sex trafficker has accepted her fate. In addition to many other friends who have not been friends since the conviction, there is a name from her environment who has publicly stood behind her: Donald Trump. When Maxwell was arrested in 2020, he was one of the few to wish her well. She recalls: "I was very touched because he dared when others didn't."
Most of her former acquaintances would have distanced themselves. The reason for this is also the prejudice by the media. She was portrayed as the "wicked witch" in the Epstein case. "I think anyone who says anything remotely positive about me attracts a lot of negative interest," she says to the Daily Mail. In the meantime, she's sure: "Meeting Jeffrey Epstein was that biggest mistake of my life."
Today she would make some decisions differently. But the fact is that Ghislaine Maxwell traded her life in high society for a dangerous life in prison due to wrong life choices and the close connection to Jeffrey Epstein. She reports, for example, of death threats, social isolation and severe restrictions.
Nevertheless, Maxwell does not give up hope of being able to lead another life again. She has already appealed the verdict for which she is currently being held at the Tallahasee FCI in Florida. The process will take several months or years, but is already "in full bloom," she says. Ghislaine Maxwell still believes she is innocent.
Source: Daily Mail, BBC
