Chicago Sun-Times
NEW YORK — Disgraced financier Bernie Madoff has told Barbara Walters that he has terrible remorse and horrible nightmares over his epic fraud, but also said he feels happier in prison than he’s felt in 20 years.
Walters told ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Thursday that she interviewed Madoff for two hours at the prison in Butner, N.C., where he’s serving a 150-year sentence. No cameras were allowed in the prison.
Walters said Madoff told her he thought about suicide before being sent to prison. But since he’s been there, he no longer thinks about it.
His comments come ahead of his wife’s appearance on Sunday’s edition of CBS’ “60 Minutes.” Ruth Madoff said in excerpts that they tried to kill themselves after he admitted stealing billions of dollars in the largest Ponzi scheme in history.
Walters quoted Madoff as saying: “I feel safer here (in prison) than outside. I have people to talk to, no decisions to make. I know I will die in prison. I lived the last 20 years of my life in fear. Now, I have no fear because I’m no longer in control.”
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