Epstein Case: Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has mentioned the late Princess Diana in newly released transcripts from the US Department of Justice. In an interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Maxwell suggested that Epstein may have been arranged to meet Diana at a London event in the 1990s.
What Maxwell said about Diana?
Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking minors to Epstein, told investigators that Epstein moved in elite London circles before she met him, befriending Rosa Monckton, one of Diana’s closest friends and her husband, journalist Dominic Lawson.
According to Maxwell, Monckton hosted an event where Epstein might have crossed paths with the princess. “I don’t know if he sat with Diana or he met with Diana and he’d already met her. I don’t know, but this, I believe, was organised by Rosa,” Maxwell said. She added that Diana may have even been considered as a potential date for Epstein, though she qualified her remark by refusing to “speak badly of Diana”.
The timeline of her account has raised eyebrows, as Princess Diana died in a Paris car crash in 1997, while Maxwell referred to the early 2000s.
The release of the tapes comes at a time when Maxwell is pursuing a pardon from US President Donald Trump. Her legal team has also petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn her conviction, which stems from her role in procuring and grooming underage girls for Epstein.
Shortly after her interview with Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal lawyer, Maxwell was quietly transferred from a Florida facility to a minimum-security prison in Texas. The reason for her relocation has not been disclosed.
Maxwell denies introducing Epstein to Royals
Maxwell has long been accused of opening doors for Epstein in British high society, but she denied introducing him to Prince Andrew or other members of the royal family. “That is a flat untruth,” she said, claiming instead that Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was responsible for Epstein’s connection with Andrew.
The Duke of York, who settled a civil case with Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre in 2022 without admitting liability, has previously stated Maxwell introduced him to Epstein. In her testimony, Maxwell dismissed claims of sexual misconduct involving Andrew as “mind-blowingly not conceivable”, citing the layout of her home where the alleged events took place.
She also called the infamous photograph showing Prince Andrew with Giuffre, with Maxwell standing nearby, a fake.
Epstein “client list”
Maxwell also attempted to dismantle one of the most enduring conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein: the alleged existence of a “client list” of powerful figures. “There is no list,” she told investigators.
Her interview revealed that she was asked about several high-profile names, including Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Naomi Campbell, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Prince Andrew. She insisted that she never introduced these individuals to Epstein and denied knowledge of inappropriate conduct involving them.
Maxwell’s relationship with Epstein
According to her own account, Maxwell first met Epstein in 1991 and later became both his confidante and sexual partner. She has admitted introducing him to influential social networks but continues to downplay her central role in his abuse ring.
Her comments about Princess Diana mark the latest in a string of explosive claims she has made from behind bars, raising questions about her motivations as she seeks legal relief and potential clemency.
The Epstein case has continued to reverberate long after his death in 2019. The new transcripts shows the scandal has entangled powerful figures, from members of the British royal family to US political leaders.