Ann Freedman, the former head of the now-defunct Knoedler Gallery, spoke to the Art Newspaper in an exclusive interview.

Freedman has maintained her innocence ever since the Knoedler scandal broke in 2009, closing the once esteemed Manhattan gallery. A string of lawsuits ensued over $70 million in forged Abstract Expressionist artworks. Some suits against the gallery and Freedman have been settled out of court; the first that went to trial was lodged by Domenico and Eleanore De Sole who purchased a faux Rothko. The couple settled with Freedman before she took the stand, robbing art world watchers of hearing her testimony.

Here's a snapshot of Freedman's recent commentary from the interview:

The accusations of forgeries “gave me more fire to be proving better and harder what I believed”, Freedman said. “I always thought that tomorrow I’ll find a photograph of the artist’s studio and see the corner of [one of the forged paintings.] When you’re doing research, you’re like Christopher Columbus. You’re not sure when you’re going to find land.”

She continued: “I am terribly sorry for anybody who [says they have been] hurt or damaged…But let me be clear, this is [about] works of art. I didn’t slay anybody’s first-born. We have to have some perspective on suffering.”