Convicted sex offender: Ghislaine Maxwell calls photo of Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre a 'fake'

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Prince Andrew (left) holds Virginia Giuffre (middle) in his arms, next to him is Ghislaine Maxwell – who considers the photo manipulated

Photo: US Department of Justice / dpa

Prince Andrew puts his arm around 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, next to her now convicted Ghislaine Maxwell: This photo is said to have been taken in 2001 at Maxwell's home in London.

In the abuse trial against the British Royal, it was considered an important piece of evidence.

Now, in an interview from prison, Maxwell has claimed the photo isn't real.

“It's a fake.

I don't believe for a second it's real," she said in an interview with journalist Daphne Barak.

The interview was recorded last summer and the first excerpts from it have now been published by the British broadcaster TalkTV.

'There was never an original, and besides there is no photograph.

I've only seen one photocopy of it so far."

Maxwell was found guilty in December 2021 by a jury in New York, among other things, of human trafficking of minors for the purpose of abuse.

She was regarded as the right-hand man of businessman Jeffrey Epstein, who was networked to the highest circles, and played a central role in building a ring for the sexual abuse of girls.

In June 2022, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Prince Andrew was also involved in the case: the American Virginia Giuffre accused the second eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II of having sexually abused her as a minor;

Maxwell and Epstein are said to have repeatedly referred her to Andrew for abuse.

The royal, who used to be friends with Epstein, has always denied the allegations.

Giuffre had sued Andrew.

In February 2022, both sides then reached an out-of-court settlement.

Andrew averted a reputation-damaging civil lawsuit in the United States.

He had already given up his royal duties in 2019 and largely withdrawn from the public eye.

In January 2022, he lost his military titles and royal patronage.

Andrew previously claimed in 2019 that the photo showing him with Giuffre may have been manipulated.

In 2022, his lawyers also publicly questioned the authenticity.

In her interview from prison, Maxwell said she couldn't remember Andrew and Giuffre ever meeting, according to Britain's The Sun.

But she also added, "I know Virginia traveled with Jeffrey, so it's entirely possible."

Maxwell also spoke about her possible plans for the future.

You have lost everything, the newspaper quotes from the interview.

She now focuses on helping other people.

"Being in prison is truly one of the most barbaric and horrific experiences a human being can have," she said.

"The only thing that drives me and keeps me sane is literally the belief that I still have something to give." could I go out and help there«.

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