CNN interrupted for major breaking news which could have 'huge impact' on Donald Trump
CNN news reporter Erin Burnett read out live on air: "We are just learning this hour that Jeffrey Epstein's ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell was granted limited immunity in order to talk with Trump's personal attorney turned deputy attorney general, Todd Blanch."
The British socialite and former ex-girlfriend of convicted sex offender Epstein met with Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche on multiple occasions this week. It's said she was the one who initiated the meetings.
The limited immunity means that anything Maxwell said that was truthful couldn't be used against her in the future. According to her attorney, David Oscar Markus, during the past days worth of talks, Maxwell was asked questions by DOJ on "maybe about 100 different people".
He told CNN and other reporters, she answered the questions put to her and "didn't hold anything back". It's said Maxwell spoke for nine hours over the two days.
Trump is mentioned within the Epstein files, with has name appearing multiple times on flight logs for Epstein's private plane in the 1990s. However, it is unknown whether Maxwell's questions involved the president.
Trump had said earlier he hasn't thought about giving Maxwell a pardon or commutation for her cooperation. However he hadn't ruled it out. He explained how he is "allowed to do it" but hasn't thought about it.
After Maxwell's arrest in connection to Epstein's crimes in 2020, Trump had said: "I do wish her well. I'm not looking for anything bad for her."
Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in jail for trafficking underage girls. She was convicted of five charges in December 2021 for recruiting and grooming four girls to have sexual encounters with Epstein, then her boyfriend, between 1994 and 2004 following a month-long trial.
Before imposing a 20-year sentence, Judge Nathan summarised the cases of several of the victims. She said Maxwell and Epstein used a "playbook" over the years, and the result was "incalculable" damage to their victims.
"The sentence I impose must reflect the gravity of Ms Maxwell's conduct," she said. 'A substantial sentence will send an unmistakable message that those who engage in the sexual abuse and trafficking of underage victims will be held accountable by the law.
'The rule of law demands, and this court agrees, that whether you are rich or powerful or entirely unknown, nobody is above the law."
Judge Nathan added: 'It is important to emphasise that although Epstein was central to this criminal scheme, Ms Maxwell is not being punished in place of Epstein or as a proxy for Epstein." She went on to call the crimes "heinous and predatory'.
Maxwell continues to appeal her conviction. The initial appeal against her convictions was rejected by a US court in September last year. She currently isn't eligible for release from prison until July 2037.
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Daily Mirror
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Nigel Farage 'fanning flames of hatred' with 'dangerous' claims of 'cover-up'
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36 minutes ago
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