Maxwell Saying She Feels 'So Bad' for Prince Andrew Has 'Made Things Worse'

Ghislaine Maxwell described Prince Andrew as a "dear friend" who "is paying such a price" for his association with her, during an interview conducted in prison.

The British socialite, who was jailed for trafficking girls for her former lover Jeffrey Epstein in June, told journalist Daphne Barak she had been keeping an eye on Prince Andrew's case during an interview for CBS-Paramount Plus.

Maxwell said: "I feel so bad for him. I follow what is happening to him.''

Barak, writing in British newspaper The Sun, said Maxwell "appeared shaken" when told Andrew's own lawyers said they were never close.

"I accept that this friendship could not survive my conviction," Maxwell said. "He is paying such a price for the association. I consider him a dear friend. I care about him."

Newsweek approached Andrew's team for comment.

Maxwell's warm words may, however, make uncomfortable reading for Andrew, a month after he was allowed a brief return to the public eye to mourn his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at her funeral on September 19.

Former Federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, told Newsweek: "Andrew tried to distance himself from Ghislaine, saying that they weren't close. Obviously this doesn't help his reputation with her saying they were close."

Nigel Cawthorne, author of Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew: Epstein, Maxwell and the Palace, told Newsweek: "I think this has already made things worse for Andrew. Firstly, it's brought the whole issue up again. Secondly, he was denying being a good friend of hers. And now she says he was."

Maxwell also told Barak she believed Andrew was the victim of "faked evidence." The Duke of York settled out of court in March 2022 after Virginia Giuffre accused him of rape during a civil lawsuit. He denied her allegations.

Among the evidence was a now famous photograph of Andrew with his arm around Virginia's waist, which she says was taken on her disposable camera by Epstein at Maxwell's London townhouse in the early 2000s.

Cawthrone said: "Maxwell expresses compassion for Andrew and for Clinton but doesn't say anything about the victims of her offenses or Epstein's. Then there's 50 things wrong with the photograph, well, never mind that. Were you there with Andrew and Virginia or not? Was it your house?

"It is rather odd, she must have taken legal advice on what she was saying and she did say she would not go any further because of the appeal. Perhaps she is lonely in jail and wants some company."

Rahmani said: "Obviously she tries to say that the picture was doctored and no one has produced the original. I don't think that is very compelling or persuasive."

On Bill Clinton, Maxwell told Barak: "It was a special friendship, which continued over the years.

"We had lots in common. I feel bad that he is another victim, only because of his association with Jeffrey. I understand he, like others, can no longer consider me as a friend."

A 2019 statement by Clinton's team, since released to Newsweek, read: "President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York.

"In 2002 and 2003, President Clinton took a total of four trips on Jeffrey Epstein's airplane: one to Europe, one to Asia, and two to Africa, which included stops in connection with the work of the Clinton Foundation."

Newsweek approached Clinton's team for comment.