DOJ Publishes Redacted Ghislaine Maxwell Transcripts
Maxwell’s Epstein revelations spark Trump administration transparency row.
The U.S. Justice Department released redacted transcripts and audio recordings of a two-day interview conducted in July with Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s former associate, as the Trump administration grapples with intense criticism over its handling of the Epstein case. The interviews, led by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in a Florida courthouse, aimed to address public outcry after the administration’s earlier refusal to disclose a trove of investigative records, fueling accusations of concealing damaging information about Epstein’s high-profile connections.
Maxwell, convicted in 2021 for her role in Epstein’s sex trafficking of teenage girls and currently serving a 20-year sentence, spoke extensively about her interactions with prominent figures, including President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton. She recalled possibly meeting Trump in 1990 through her father, Robert Maxwell, then-owner of the New York Daily News, noting his cordiality and denying any inappropriate behavior by him. “I never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting in any way,” Maxwell said, praising Trump as a “gentleman in all respects.” She also denied Clinton visited Epstein’s private island or received massages in her presence, clarifying their interactions were limited to time spent on Epstein’s plane.
The release follows a turbulent month for the Trump administration, which faced backlash after a July announcement from the FBI and Justice Department asserting Epstein’s 2019 death was a suicide, dismissing conspiracy theories, and stating no “client list” existed, contrary to earlier suggestions by Attorney General Pam Bondi. This sparked outrage among Trump supporters and online communities expecting evidence of a cover-up, an expectation partly driven by FBI Director Kash Patel’s prior podcast claims about a secretive “black book” under FBI control.
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Maxwell’s transfer to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas shortly after the interview raised speculation about a potential deal, though neither her attorney, David Markus, nor the Bureau of Prisons provided clarification. Markus insisted Maxwell answered all questions truthfully, denying any client list or blackmail by Epstein and maintaining her innocence. However, victims’ attorneys, like Brittany Henderson, questioned Maxwell’s credibility, citing her perjury charges and suggesting she may be seeking a pardon from Trump.
The administration’s earlier missteps, including Bondi’s February presentation of largely public documents labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” to far-right influencers, intensified scrutiny. After Bondi promised a “truckload” of new evidence, the Justice Department later backtracked, stating court-sealed materials protecting victims limited further disclosures. The House Oversight Committee, having subpoenaed Epstein-related files, received thousands of pages on Friday, including Maxwell’s transcripts, with plans to release redacted versions publicly after review.
The Epstein saga, marked by his 2019 jail cell death and connections to figures like Prince Andrew, continues to dog Trump, who has distanced himself from Epstein since their 1990s social ties. Internal administration tensions, including a reported clash between Bondi and deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, underscore the political sensitivity of the case, with Trump dismissing some supporters’ demands as a “hoax.” As Maxwell’s appeal against her conviction looms before the Supreme Court, the transcript release represents a calculated move to quell public and political pressure while leaving many questions unresolved.
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