Daily Mail

Day Epstein was blessed by the Pope

- By Andrew Levy

PaedoPhile financier Jeffrey epstein’s ‘ability to open almost any door’ has been dramatical­ly illustrate­d by a photograph showing him and his alleged madame Ghislaine Maxwell being blessed by Pope John Paul ii.

The image is believed to have been taken during a private meeting at the Vatican in the summer of 2003, according to flights logs for epstein’s private jet – known as the ‘lolita express’.

epstein and Maxwell both clasped their hands reverentia­lly during the meeting. ‘Pictures like this show just how powerful epstein’s connection­s were and his ability to open almost any door,’ a source told The Sun on Sunday.

‘he managed to manipulate his way into royal palaces, the White house and the Vatican, all with Maxwell by his side.’

The photograph was revealed days before socialite Maxwell, 59, goes on trial in Manhattan accused of aiding epstein’s sex traffickin­g ring.

epstein is also reported to have displayed a picture of a grinning Prince andrew ‘like a trophy’ at his Florida home.

The image of the Queen’s son, who appears to be wearing military uniform, was kept at the Palm Beach mansion dubbed the ‘Pleasure Palace’ by the disgraced financier, who abused underage girls there. it will raise further uncomforta­ble questions for the duke of York about his relationsh­ip with epstein at a time when he is fighting a lawsuit from Virginia Roberts.

The 38-year-old, who is bringing the case under her married name Giuffre, claims the prince sexually assaulted her when she was under the age of 18 – allegation­s he strenuousl­y denies.

Meanwhile, US prosecutor­s claim to have ‘compelling evidence’ of Maxwell’s guilt in the form of her contacts book, The Sunday Times reported.

The book is among exhibits and witness informatio­n disclosed for the first time in court filings, with her trial due to start on November 29.

Maxwell faces six counts, including sex-traffickin­g conspiracy and enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts.

her lawyers have been trying to strike out the book, claiming it is an ‘unauthenti­cated hearsay document’. obtained by a undercover FBi agent from a former Palm Beach butler who was trying to sell it, the book will draw parallels with epstein’s infamous ‘black book’ which was stuffed with contact details of the rich and famous, including donald Trump.

The photo of andrew at the Florida mansion sat beside a framed image of epstein dressed casually in a blue jumper.

The duke, 61, admitted in his car-crash BBC interview with emily Maitlis that he had visited the property, but it was just for the odd ‘day’. But epstein’s former butler, Juan alessi, has sworn on oath that andrew ‘spent weeks with us’. Mr alessi also recalled seeing naked girls during andrew’s stay.

‘Ability to open almost any door’

 ?? ?? Vatican meeting: Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell with Pope John Paul II
Vatican meeting: Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell with Pope John Paul II

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