Latest news with #DukeofYork
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Maxwell questioned over Duke of York by Trump officials
Ghislaine Maxwell was questioned about the Duke of York during an interview with Trump administration officials. The former girlfriend of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was asked about the royal for the first time during two days of meetings with the US deputy attorney general, a source told the Mail on Sunday. They said: 'This is the first time anyone has asked Ghislaine about any of the men. 'She told the truth and didn't back away from any questions. She wants the truth to come out.' Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in helping Epstein recruit and abuse underage girls, is the only person to have ever been convicted in connection with his crimes. In 2021, Virginia Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, claimed she was raped and abused by the Duke on three separate occasions, when she was 17. The Duke has always vehemently denied the allegations, insisting he has 'no recollection' of meeting Giuffre, who died by suicide earlier this year. Without admitting liability, the Duke allegedly paid his accuser more than £12 million in an out-of-court settlement in February 2022. Maxwell's lawyer said she answered 'every question' put to her by Trump administration officials during the nine-hour interview at Tallahassee Federal Prison in Florida. The 63-year-old was granted a limited form of immunity, allowing her to answer questions put to her by Todd Blanche, the US deputy attorney general, without risk of her responses later being used against her, sources said. This included being quizzed about 'more than 100 different people', according to an individual familiar with the meeting. 'The limited immunity deal is a huge risk for her because this case is so politicised she only has immunity so long as she hasn't lied,' a source told the Mail on Sunday. 'She was asked about a laundry list of people including Prince Andrew, Bill Gates, Les Wexner, Bill Clinton, Alan Dershowitz, Leon Black and a Who's Who of powerful Wall Street moneymen and financiers. 'There were Silicon Valley names in there along with world leaders, other non-British royals aside from Andrew and famous names from the world of show business.' The interview comes amid growing political pressure on Donald Trump who has been dogged by allegations that the White House is suppressing information contained in the so-called Epstein files. The documents have remained sealed despite promises made by the president's administration to release them. 'Funny business' According to reports, Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, told Mr Trump he appeared in the files weeks before her department announced it would not be releasing any more of the documents. Department of Justice (DoJ) officials reviewed the files earlier this year and discovered Mr Trump's name appeared multiple times, senior officials told the Wall Street Journal. Mr Trump is said to have privately told people he fears being accused of 'funny business' because of his former friendship with the financier. The president, who is currently making a scheduled trip to Scotland, is expected to meet with the US deputy attorney general in the coming days to discuss the interview with Maxwell. Speaking with reporters on Friday, Mr Trump refused to rule out granting clemency to the disgraced British socialite in exchange for her testimony. 'I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I haven't thought about,' he said of Maxwell. 'Fake news stories' Responding to the allegations, Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, told The Telegraph: 'The fact is that the president kicked him [Epstein] out of his club for being a creep. 'This is nothing more than a continuation of the fake news stories concocted by the Democrats and the liberal media, just like the Obama Russiagate scandal, which President Trump was right about.' Meanwhile, Maxwell's family have previously suggested that the convicted sex trafficker could use 'government misconduct' to challenge her imprisonment, claiming 'she did not receive a fair trial'. David Markus, Maxwell's lawyer, briefly spoke with reporters ahead of his client's renewed questioning, describing her as a 'scapegoat'. 'The truth will come out about what happened with Mr. Epstein and she's the person who's answering those questions,' he added. Legal appeals against Maxwell's sex trafficking convictions have been rejected by the courts, however.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Prince Andrew appears pensive as he embarks on his weekly ride through the Windsor estate
Prince Andrew appeared deep in thought as he enjoyed the warmer weather around the Windsor estate on Saturday morning. The Duke of York, 65, typically heads out on his horse to kick off the weekend in Berkshire, and he didn't let the humidity sway him today. The royal wore a short-sleeved burgundy button down shirt for the outing, paired with black leather riding gloves and his typical white-striped riding helmet. He completed his ensemble with a pair of black trousers and thick riding boots. Andrew was accompanied by a groom for his riding session on Saturday, as he typically is. But the pair didn't appear to often be in conversation throughout the trip. Instead, the prince seemed to be lost in thought. It comes as an insider claimed Andrew was personally asked to contribute a message to billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein 's 50th birthday album. The Duke of York, 65, typically heads out on his horse to kick off the weekend in Berkshire, and he didn't let the humidity sway him today The Duke of York was allegedly approached by longtime friend Maxwell to write a personal message for Epstein's milestone birthday in 2003, a project the British socialite is said to have spent over a year orchestrating. He was convicted of sex crimes a few years later, in 2008. Maxwell, now 63 and serving a 20-year sentence in a US prison for trafficking underage girls, is believed to have asked Epstein's circle of powerful and wealthy friends to submit written tributes. According to US investigators, the album - described as 'gold-embossed' and bound in leather - was later recovered by the Department of Justice during a probe into Epstein's sordid network. A US source told the Sunday People: 'Ghislaine was the driving force behind the birthday tributes. 'She wanted it to be a who's who of Epstein's inner circle, and she leaned on a lot of people to write something. It wasn't just casual greetings. Ghislaine wanted messages that were personal, meaningful.' 'Jeffrey… always saw Andrew as the pinnacle of his pals, and Ghislaine made sure he was asked to contribute. 'She framed it as a celebration of Jeffrey's brilliance, his generosity, his supposed unique mind. She made it sound like an honour to be included.' It is not known whether Prince Andrew did ultimately send a message. However, his close relationship with Epstein, a friendship he has faced intense scrutiny over in recent years, was already well established at the time. Andrew was first introduced to Epstein by Maxwell in 1999 and subsequently visited the disgraced financier at his homes in New York, Palm Beach, and the US Virgin Islands. Epstein was also hosted by the Prince at royal residences including Balmoral, Windsor Castle, Sandringham, and Royal Ascot. The Duke has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes, which became public in 2006.
Leader Live
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Rage Of Bamby is 33-1 winner of Hackwood Stakes
The winner of a Listed affair at Newmarket in October, Eve Johnson Houghton's charge was well adrift of her best in her first two starts of this season, but was back to something like when not beaten far when sixth in a Group Three at York last weekend. Despite that she looked to have it to do in a strong renewal at the same level, but was in the firing line from the off as she raced slightly away from the others on the near side of the pack, and while Regional and the gambled-on King's Gamble looked like they would battle it out, Charlie Bishop had lots of horse underneath him and swept past to score by a length and three-quarters over King's Gamble. Johnson Houghton said: 'We always had faith she would win a Group race, but that faith has been tested somewhat this year. 'She ran really well at York last time when possibly I had left her a bit short. I know it was a bit quick to run her back and it looked a Group One in all but name – I wasn't expecting her to win, (but) I did think she would run a big race. On her day she is really good.' For the winning syndicate Hot To Trot Racing it was a 100th winner since their formation, with members now able to dream of bigger days later in the season before the five-year-old bows out at the conclusion of the campaign. Racing manager Sam Hoskins added: 'We've been going since 2012 and it's our 100th winner so to do it in a Group Three is really, really special. We have 80 members in the syndicate and it is just brilliant. 'Eve has always thought so much of her and it was quite a big decision for us to enter her in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. 'But when she finished out the back of the television at York in the (1895) Duke of York (Stakes) it was really disappointing and she ran the same at Haydock the next time and she was almost borderline retirement. Because we lease the filly, it was a big decision for the breeder to keep her in training this year and we were feeling rather low. 'She has nothing to lose now as she will go off to stud at the end of the year, so she could maybe head to Haydock for the Sprint Cup or something, we've got to have a go. 'We'll enjoy today first and we're over the moon, it shows you have to always have a go, but I don't think we saw this coming.'
North Wales Chronicle
20-07-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Rage Of Bamby is 33-1 winner of Hackwood Stakes
The winner of a Listed affair at Newmarket in October, Eve Johnson Houghton's charge was well adrift of her best in her first two starts of this season, but was back to something like when not beaten far when sixth in a Group Three at York last weekend. Despite that she looked to have it to do in a strong renewal at the same level, but was in the firing line from the off as she raced slightly away from the others on the near side of the pack, and while Regional and the gambled-on King's Gamble looked like they would battle it out, Charlie Bishop had lots of horse underneath him and swept past to score by a length and three-quarters over King's Gamble. Johnson Houghton said: 'We always had faith she would win a Group race, but that faith has been tested somewhat this year. 'She ran really well at York last time when possibly I had left her a bit short. I know it was a bit quick to run her back and it looked a Group One in all but name – I wasn't expecting her to win, (but) I did think she would run a big race. On her day she is really good.' For the winning syndicate Hot To Trot Racing it was a 100th winner since their formation, with members now able to dream of bigger days later in the season before the five-year-old bows out at the conclusion of the campaign. Racing manager Sam Hoskins added: 'We've been going since 2012 and it's our 100th winner so to do it in a Group Three is really, really special. We have 80 members in the syndicate and it is just brilliant. 'Eve has always thought so much of her and it was quite a big decision for us to enter her in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. 'But when she finished out the back of the television at York in the (1895) Duke of York (Stakes) it was really disappointing and she ran the same at Haydock the next time and she was almost borderline retirement. Because we lease the filly, it was a big decision for the breeder to keep her in training this year and we were feeling rather low. 'She has nothing to lose now as she will go off to stud at the end of the year, so she could maybe head to Haydock for the Sprint Cup or something, we've got to have a go. 'We'll enjoy today first and we're over the moon, it shows you have to always have a go, but I don't think we saw this coming.'
Rhyl Journal
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Rage Of Bamby is 33-1 winner of Hackwood Stakes
The winner of a Listed affair at Newmarket in October, Eve Johnson Houghton's charge was well adrift of her best in her first two starts of this season, but was back to something like when not beaten far when sixth in a Group Three at York last weekend. Despite that she looked to have it to do in a strong renewal at the same level, but was in the firing line from the off as she raced slightly away from the others on the near side of the pack, and while Regional and the gambled-on King's Gamble looked like they would battle it out, Charlie Bishop had lots of horse underneath him and swept past to score by a length and three-quarters over King's Gamble. Johnson Houghton said: 'We always had faith she would win a Group race, but that faith has been tested somewhat this year. 'She ran really well at York last time when possibly I had left her a bit short. I know it was a bit quick to run her back and it looked a Group One in all but name – I wasn't expecting her to win, (but) I did think she would run a big race. On her day she is really good.' For the winning syndicate Hot To Trot Racing it was a 100th winner since their formation, with members now able to dream of bigger days later in the season before the five-year-old bows out at the conclusion of the campaign. Racing manager Sam Hoskins added: 'We've been going since 2012 and it's our 100th winner so to do it in a Group Three is really, really special. We have 80 members in the syndicate and it is just brilliant. 'Eve has always thought so much of her and it was quite a big decision for us to enter her in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. 'But when she finished out the back of the television at York in the (1895) Duke of York (Stakes) it was really disappointing and she ran the same at Haydock the next time and she was almost borderline retirement. Because we lease the filly, it was a big decision for the breeder to keep her in training this year and we were feeling rather low. 'She has nothing to lose now as she will go off to stud at the end of the year, so she could maybe head to Haydock for the Sprint Cup or something, we've got to have a go. 'We'll enjoy today first and we're over the moon, it shows you have to always have a go, but I don't think we saw this coming.'
