Friend: Socialite in Epstein probe will not harm prince
Ghislaine Maxwell will never disclose information about the Duke of York to investigators probing paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, a friend claimed yesterday.
Former investment banker Laura Goldman said the British socialite regarded Andrew as a friend and was “never going to say anything” about him to investigators.
She spoke out as Maxwell prepares to appear in court in the US on Thursday accused of helping disgraced financier Epstein “identify, befriend and groom” multiple girls, including one as young as 14.
The duke, who is a former friend of Epstein, has since been urged to provide information to the investigation by a US attorney. Ms Goldman, who claims to have known Maxwell since she moved to the US, told the BBC she would “have to” go for a plea deal with prosecutors. Asked if Maxwell would speak about the duke as part of the investigation, Ms Goldman said: “She has always told me she would never, ever say anything about him. I think she felt he was her friend and she was never going to say anything about him.
“She felt in the 90s when her father died that Prince Andrew was there for her.” Ms Goldman said she last spoke to Maxwell “a couple of weeks ago” prior to her arrest in New Hampshire on Thursday, adding: “She knew she was coming to the end of the road.” She claimed Maxwell was a “victim” of Epstein and was always “a little afraid of him”. Ms Goldman said: “I think she thought if she did one more grooming, found him one more girl, he would marry her. Is that OK? No.
“She honestly thought at the end of the day she would be Mrs Jeffrey Epstein and that was the prize she wanted.”
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Ms Goldman said Ms Maxwell remained close with Andrew and she visited him at Buckingham Palace last summer. Ms Goldman said Maxwell claimed the royal was naive to the comings and goings at Epstein’s house. She told the paper: “The only way she can walk is if she gives someone up but that definitely
Prince Andrew, above, was a friend of Jeffrey Epstein