Ghislaine Maxwell to meet with DOJ again today over Epstein case
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche posted July 24 on social media that he would again meet with Maxwell, the former British socialite serving a 20-year prison sentence in Tallahassee, Florida, for trafficking a minor to Epstein for sexual abuse.
"Today, I met with Ghislaine Maxwell, and I will continue my interview of her tomorrow," Blanche wrote on X, adding, "The Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time."
Talks between the Justice Department and Maxwell come as the Trump administration faces mounting pressure to reverse its pledge not to release any more documents related to the Epstein case, an announcement that prompted fierce backlash from the president's most loyal followers.
Epstein, the wealthy financier, hanged himself in 2019 in a Manhattan jail cell, an autopsy concluded, while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His case has long been the subject of conspiracy theories, considering his rich and powerful friends and the circumstances of his death.
Maxwell was Epstein's girlfriend for years and has been accused of recruiting minors for the disgraced financier's predation. Her lengthy relationship with Epstein and role in his efforts to sexually target minor girls raises the question of whether she knows of others who could have been involved in a sex-trafficking ring with Epstein. She maintains her innocence and is appealing her 2021 sex-trafficking conviction.
DOJ's first meeting with Maxwell was 'very productive,' lawyer says
After meeting with Blanche on July 24, David Markus, the Miami attorney representing Ghislaine Maxwell, called the meeting "very productive."
Markus spoke with reporters outside the U.S. Courthouse in Tallahassee after he and Maxwell met for hours behind closed doors to field questions from Blanche about the notorious Jeffrey Epstein case. He thanked Blanche for meeting with them and 'for being so professional with all of us.'
'He took a full day and asked a lot of questions, and Ms. Maxwell answered every single question,' Markus said. 'She never stopped. She never invoked her privilege. She never declined to answer. She answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability.'
Prosecutors left through a back entrance without taking questions, and Maxwell was returned to FCI Tallahassee, the low-security women's prison where she has been incarcerated for the last three years.
Contributing: Aysha Bagchi and Josh Meyer, USA TODAY; Reuters
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