Sarah Ferguson: apologetic
The Duchess of York made a heartfelt apology yesterday for accepting money from billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
In an interview with the Evening Standard, she owned up to “a gigantic error of judgment” but strongly defended Prince Andrew over the controversy surrounding his friendship with the financier, a convicted sex offender.
She also made a passionate defence of her former husband who she described as a “first-rate father and first-rate man?...who does not know how to tell an untruth or behave dishonourably”.
Sarah’s apology for allowing Epstein to provide £15,000 to help pay off her debts may take some of the pressure off the prince.
“I personally, on behalf of myself, deeply regret that Jeffrey Epstein became involved in any way with me,” she said. “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf.
“I am just so contrite I cannot say. Whenever I can I will repay the money and will have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”
The money was paid to Sarah’s former assistant, Johnny O’Sullivan, who was claiming £78,000 in unpaid wages and other bills.
Epstein stepped in after discussing the affair with Andrew’s office and dealt directly with O’Sullivan, who accepted £15,000 which then allowed a wider restructuring of Sarah’s £5mn debts to take place.
Epstein had personally offered to help the duchess as he knew that O’Sullivan was insisting his money was paid in full, which meant the rest of the debt could not be restructured.
The duchess said: “This is the first time ever in my life, and I mean ‘ever’, that I have been debt free. It allows me to go forward to do what I do, being a good mother, a philanthropist for children and also an author of children’s books.
“I cannot state more strongly that I know a terrible, terrible error of judgment was made, my having anything do with Jeffrey Epstein. What he did was wrong and for which he was rightly jailed.
“Once again my errors have compounded and rebounded and also inadvertently impacted on the man I admire most in the world, the duke.”
The duchess added: “I would throw myself under a bus for him. It is in times of difficulty that character shows itself. I am fiery Irish redhead and I am to remain strong, fight strong and try to do what is right.”