Ghislaine Maxwell has for the first time been formally interrogated by U.S. authorities about Prince Andrew and more than 100 other high-profile individuals connected to the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, The Mail on Sunday reveals.
In a closed-door, nine-hour meeting with U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Maxwell — currently serving a 20-year sentence in Florida’s Tallahassee Federal Prison — reportedly answered every question “honestly and truthfully,” according to a source with knowledge of the exchange.
The session marks a turning point in the ongoing Epstein saga and is the first time Maxwell has been officially questioned about her former friend, the Duke of York.
A List of the Powerful: Andrew, Clinton, Gates, Musk, and More
Sources say Maxwell was questioned not only about Prince Andrew — who has always denied any wrongdoing — but also about a long list of elite men from politics, finance, tech, and entertainment. Names include former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, fashion mogul Les Wexner, attorney Alan Dershowitz, private equity billionaire Leon Black, and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, along with his brother Kimbal.
“There were Silicon Valley executives, Wall Street power brokers, global leaders, and even other royals aside from Andrew,” the source said. “It was a monumental moment — she finally got to speak on the record about these people.”
Maxwell’s testimony was given under a limited immunity deal, meaning her cooperation will protect her from further prosecution only if she told the truth. “It’s a high-risk move for her,” said the insider. “If any lie is uncovered, immunity is void.”
Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre
Prince Andrew has faced longstanding allegations by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked to him by Epstein when she was just 17. Andrew has consistently denied the accusations and settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre for an undisclosed multi-million-pound sum in 2022, with no admission of guilt. Giuffre tragically died by suicide earlier this year.
Trump, the Epstein Files, and a Possible Pardon
The explosive interview with Maxwell was reportedly ordered by Donald Trump, whose administration has come under increasing pressure to release the full “Epstein Files” — long-sought documents tied to the late financier’s sprawling abuse network. Trump has faced criticism for initially promising their release and then stalling.
Maxwell is said to be hoping for a presidential pardon or commutation of her sentence in exchange for her cooperation. Trump, currently in Scotland, acknowledged he has the power to pardon her, saying, “It’s something I haven’t thought about.”
Deputy AG Todd Blanche is expected to meet with Trump after his return to the U.S. to discuss next steps.
“She Has Always Vowed to Tell the Truth”
“She’s never told her full story to any government authority until now,” a source close to Maxwell stated. “It was emotional. But she didn’t dodge any question. She wants the truth to come out.”
Maxwell was seen returning to prison last Thursday carrying a box believed to be filled with legal documents. Insiders say the case now includes over five million pages of documentation.
The questioning took place inside a secure fourth-floor conference room at the Tallahassee Federal Courthouse. Seated across from Maxwell and her legal team — David Oscar Markus, Leah Saffian, and Melissa Madrigal — were Blanche, FBI agent Spencer Horn, and Associate Deputy Attorney General Diego Pestana. Security was tight, with an armed U.S. Marshal stationed at the door due to ongoing death threats against multiple people involved in the case.
High Stakes and Mounting Pressure
As the most high-profile federal inmate in the country, Maxwell’s safety has become a top concern. Officials are reportedly planning to relocate her for her protection. “No one wants what happened to Epstein to happen to her,” said a source. Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019, an alleged suicide many — including his brother and Maxwell herself — believe was murder.
Maxwell is scheduled to appear before a Congressional committee on August 11. If a formal agreement with the Department of Justice isn’t reached by then, she may invoke the Fifth Amendment to avoid self-incrimination.
Her legal team is also preparing a Supreme Court appeal, to be filed this week, in a bid to challenge her 2021 conviction for grooming and trafficking underage girls for Epstein’s abuse.
Final Thoughts
“Of course she wants a pardon — what prisoner wouldn’t?” the source said. “But nothing is guaranteed. The next move is Trump’s.”
After years of silence and speculation, Maxwell’s testimony may finally unravel the tightly held secrets at the heart of one of the most infamous abuse scandals in modern history. Whether it leads to justice — or more cover-ups — remains to be seen.