Trump-Epstein latest: DOJ to interview Ghislaine Maxwell as White House bans WSJ from president's travel pool and House speaker punts vote
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the Department of Justice wants to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend. Maxwell was convicted in 2020 of helping the disgraced financier sexually abuse underage girls and is currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison.
"If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say," Blanche said in a statement posted to X, adding that he has reached out to her counsel and anticipates meeting with her "in the coming days."
In a statement to the Associated Press, David Oscar Markus, a lawyer for Maxwell, confirmed that they were 'in discussions with the government' and that Maxwell will 'always testify truthfully.'
'We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case,' the statement added.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said that he did not know about Blanche's overture to Maxwell, but added that it 'sounds appropriate.'
'I didn't know that they were going to do it,' Trump said. 'I don't really follow that too much. It's sort of a witch hunt, just a continuation of the witch hunt.'
The Epstein fallout
The announcement comes amid a fierce backlash from some of Trump's supporters over the administration's handling of its investigation into Epstein, who died by suicide in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial.
Epstein has long been the focus of conspiracy theories that claim Epstein was murdered to conceal the names of powerful people on a secret 'client list.' Trump said he would consider releasing additional government files on Epstein and directed the Justice Department to conduct an exhaustive review of any evidence collected in its investigation.
Earlier this month, the DOJ and FBI released a two-page joint memo, concluding that Epstein 'committed suicide in his cell" and had no such 'client list.' The move enraged some Trump loyalists, who accused the president and his administration of breaking their promise to release all of the Epstein files, and put Trump's relationship with Epstein back in the spotlight.
White House bans WSJ from travel pool over Epstein report
Late last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump sent Epstein a racy birthday letter in 2003. According to the Journal, Trump's letter, along with dozens of others, was part of a leather-bound book put together by Maxwell for the since-disgraced financier's 50th birthday.
'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,' Trump's letter concluded in a typewritten message to Epstein, per the Journal.
The text was 'framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with heavy marker,' the report stated. 'A pair of small arcs denotes the woman's breasts, and the future president's signature is a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking pubic hair.'
Trump denied the report, calling it 'false, malicious, and defamatory,' and sued the newspaper and its owner, Rupert Murdoch.
Also read: What Trump has said about Epstein through the years, from 'terrific guy' to 'creep' that 'nobody cares about'
On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the paper would be excluded from the pool of news organizations covering Trump's upcoming trip to Scotland.
'Thirteen diverse outlets will participate in the press pool to cover the President's trip to Scotland,' Leavitt said in a statement. 'Due to the Wall Street Journal's fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the 13 outlets on board.'
The New York Times, a rival newspaper to the Journal, blasted the White House's decision.
'The White House's refusal to let one of the nation's leading news organizations cover the highest office in the country is an attack on core constitutional principles underpinning free speech and free press,' the Times said in a statement. 'Americans regardless of party deserve to know and understand the actions of the president and reporters play a vital role in advancing the public interest. This is simple retribution by a president against a news organization for doing reporting that he doesn't like.'
House speaker won't allow Epstein vote before summer recess
Late Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would not allow any votes related to the Epstein matter before the House takes its weekslong summer recess, which begins on Wednesday afternoon.
'My belief is we need the administration to have the space to do what it is doing, and if further congressional action is necessary or appropriate, then we'll look at that,' Johnson told CNN. 'But I don't think we're at that point right now.'
Johnson's decision comes despite intense pressure from some members of his own party who are demanding more transparency from the Trump administration on its Epstein investigation.
Last week, at least 10 House Republicans joined an effort launched by Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie and California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to force a symbolic vote on the release of more Epstein files.
Congress does not have the authority to compel the Justice Department to release the files, but any vote would amount to a loyalty test among House Republicans regarding the Epstein case.
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We Won't Miss Government Media
I'm going to miss the sweet and soothing dulcet-toned voices, but not much else. As part of the Trump administration's rescission bill, $1.1 billion in federal funding has been cut for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, perhaps sending National Public Radio, Public Broadcasting Service and member stations to that great test pattern in the sky. Those jumping to the defense of public-funded media cite both its need during emergencies and for rural areas. Nonsense. I'd bet more people use smartphones than radios these days. But the 'Mr. Snuffleupagus in the room' has always been bias. A year ago, NPR had 87 Democrats and zero Republicans on its editorial staff in Washington, according to a senior editor there. How did we let that happen?
