Alastair Campbell claims Jeffrey Epstein showed off to him because he wanted Tony Blair to know he was a ‘big deal’

ALASTAIR Campbell has claimed Jeffrey Epstein showed off to him because he wanted Tony Blair to know he was a “big deal”.

Mr Campbell met the "creepy" paedo billionaire in his luxury New York apartment with Ghislaine Maxwell.

Mr Blair's former king of spin said he bumped into Ms Maxwell - whose father he worked with while a journalist at The Mirror - on a flight to the US and she invited him over to the plush pad.

Speaking exclusivelyto Sun Online, he said: “She took me to Jeffrey Epstein’s apartment and I had a fairly inconsequential chat and that was it.

“Did I see anything that led me to believe that [he was a sex offender]? No.

“Did I think he was a bit of a creep? Yes.

“Did I feel slightly uncomfortable? Yes.

"But I think that more because I felt he was trying to show to me, and through me, Tony Blair, that he was this big deal in New York.”

I felt he was trying to show to me, and through me, Tony Blair, that he was this big deal in New York.

Alastair Campbell

Epstein died in New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center on August 10 while awaiting trial on child sex trafficking charges.

He lived an opulent lifestyle and mixed with celebrities and society figures, including Prince Andrew.

The royal has found himself in the centre of a sex scandal over his links to Epstein after allegations emerged of him inappropriately touching a woman in 2001 in New York.

ROYAL SCANDAL

It has also been alleged that the Prince slept with Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre on three separate occasions - twice while she was underage.

Prince Andrew was pictured with his arm around the waist of a 17-year-old Ms Giuffre at the home of Ms Maxwell in London in 2001 - but he strongly denies the claims.

Recently the Prince gave a “car crash” interview to the BBC about the allegations – causing charities to way up severing ties with him.

Mr Campbell said the situation was a “mess” but the Prince could come back from it.

I think it’s really interesting because there’s no doubt it’s a car crash, but is it quite as big as the papers are saying – I’m not sure?

Alastair Campbell

He told SunOnline: “I think it’s really interesting because there’s no doubt it’s a car crash, but is it quite as big as the papers are saying – I’m not sure?

“I don’t feel sorry for Prince Andrew.

“He’s had a very entitled, very privileged life and most times quite an interesting life.

“He’s obviously made a very bad error of judgement in the past, in regards to this relationship, and the interview that he’s done.

“It clearly didn’t do him any favours.

“The tone was just one of that continued sense of entitlement and one of no real understanding or empathy for other people.

“Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing.

“I don’t buy this idea that this is a big crisis for the monarchy – it’s about Prince Andrew.
“I feel a little bit sorry for the Queen that she’s got this to deal with on top of everything else, not least being lied to by her Prime Minister which is much more significant.”

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