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Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
4 key questions about DOJ's move to interview Ghislaine Maxwell
Amid a MAGA meltdown over President Donald Trump's handling of the so-called Epstein files, the Justice Department is in talks to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for child sex trafficking and other crimes connected to her longtime partner. Even if Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche does sit down with her 'in coming days,' as he indicated Tuesday, to hear her account of who else may have participated in Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, anything she says may be exceedingly difficult to corroborate. That challenge will be exacerbated by her obvious incentive to tell the Trump administration what it wants to hear, perhaps in a bid for clemency or a reduced sentence. And the administration would face tough choices about how, or whether, to offer some sort of deal. The Justice Department has already accused Maxwell of being a pervasive liar. The prosecutors who brought charges against Maxwell repeatedly told the judge overseeing her 2021 trial that she was willing to 'brazenly lie under oath about her conduct.' And they noted that her lies were the subject of two perjury counts, arguing that 'they evidence her willingness to flout the law in order to protect herself.' (The counts, which were initially expected to be the subject of a second trial, were dropped after her conviction on the sex-trafficking charges.) Here are four questions raised by the Justice Department's surprising Maxwell move. The Trump administration is struggling to escape the conspiracy vortex that its own leaders spent years fomenting. And now they're casting about for ways to show the MAGA base that they're pursuing new evidence in the Epstein case — even though they've already concluded there's nothing new to learn and said so just two weeks ago. Trump said Tuesday that he wasn't consulted in advance about the outreach to Maxwell but added: 'I think it would be something — sounds appropriate to do, yeah.' The White House declined further comment, deferring instead to the Justice Department. DOJ declined to elaborate on Blanche's statement. Before her criminal case, Maxwell had already testified twice in civil lawsuits stemming from the allegations about her role in Epstein's crimes — fiercely denying the existence of a criminal conspiracy or large-scale sex-trafficking operation. DOJ charged her with perjuring herself in those depositions. Maxwell has apparently never given her version of events to federal prosecutors. During pretrial proceedings in her criminal case, government prosecutors and Maxwell's defense attorneys acknowledged they never even broached the subject of plea negotiations where such an interview might have occurred. 'The government has not issued any plea offers to the defense and the defense has not requested any plea offers from the government,' then-Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe told Maxwell's judge in November 2021. Maxwell's attorney, meanwhile, claimed at the time that 'plea bargaining was not an issue' because her client maintained her innocence. Maxwell declined to testify in her own defense at trial. At the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office, which brought the criminal charges against Maxwell, any defendant who cooperates with prosecutors must disclose all wrongdoing or risk losing the benefits of the hypothetical plea deal. That standard may have discouraged Maxwell from speaking to prosecutors. An attorney for Maxwell, David Oscar Markus, said Tuesday that Maxwell 'will always testify truthfully' and confirmed that her legal team is in discussions with the government. In a letter to the court Tuesday, Markus indicated he had spoken directly to Blanche, who had no objection to Maxwell accessing some sealed materials connected to her criminal case. If you listen to Maxwell herself: Not much. She argued in court papers ahead of her trial that the allegations against her and Epstein were so old — stretching back to the 1990s — that there's little reliable information left to disclose. She contended that witnesses may have died or their memories faded, and corroborating documents she might be able to rely on to prove her version of events have long been destroyed. That filing includes categories labeled 'Dead witnesses and the lost testimony,' 'Lost and missing witnesses,' 'Witnesses whose memories have failed or corrupted' and 'Lost or destroyed records.' 'Significant numbers of potential witnesses no longer remember when events may have occurred, who was present, and do not have documents to refresh their memories,' Maxwell's lawyers contended. While Maxwell's own memory of events could add new details to the record, it's hard to see how prosecutors can credit any belated revelations without corroboration. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, so presumably any cooperation she might provide would come with a price. There are two main ways the Trump administration could repay her for information she offers, and they both have significant downsides for Trump. First, the Justice Department could agree to file what's known as a 'Rule 35 motion,' which is a request for a federal judge to lower a prison sentence based on certain conduct by a defendant, including cooperation with the government. The catch with that, however, is that it is up to the judge whether to grant such a request, and Maxwell's case is now being overseen by U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, an Obama appointee whom the Trump administration sees as a foe. Earlier this year, Engelmayer drew the wrath of Republicans after he temporarily blocked the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing Treasury Department payment systems. Trump called the decision 'a disgrace.' Second, Trump could simply pardon Maxwell or commute her sentence. Although he has virtually unchecked authority to do so, such a move could cause serious political blowback. Trump is already under fire for failing to appease his base on the Epstein issue. Giving a break to a convicted child sex trafficker like Maxwell would likely further enrage those who are already angry over his handling of the matter — unless Maxwell were to provide information so compelling to Trump's base that it could accept her walking free. On Tuesday morning, hours after the Justice Department said it would seek to interview Maxwell, House Republicans indicated they intend to subpoena Maxwell. 'This deposition will help the American people understand how Jeffrey Epstein was able to carry out his evil actions for so long without being brought to justice,' said Tennessee Republican Rep. Tim Burchett, who put forth a motion seeking approval of the subpoena. And last week, the Justice Department asked to make public a subset of grand jury records stemming from the prosecutions of Epstein and Maxwell, but it's unclear whether those would provide much insight beyond what's already known about those cases. First, federal judges must approve those requests. Additionally, DOJ already indicated that it intends to withhold certain information, including 'victim-related information and other personal identifying information prior to releasing the transcripts.' On Tuesday, Engelmayer said he would rule on the request in the Maxwell case 'expeditiously' but asked the government for additional information addressing several factors the judge must weigh, including 'why disclosure is being sought' and 'what specific information is being sought.' The judge also asked Maxwell to submit a letter stating her position on the potential disclosure, and he asked for any input from victims. In the Epstein case, U.S. District Judge Richard Berman asked for similar information.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
What to know about Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend
What to know about Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend FILE - Audrey Strauss, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, during a news conference in New York on July 2, 2020. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) Once a British socialite who lived a life of luxury, Ghislaine Maxwell today is confined in a U.S. prison after being convicted of helping financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. Now, three years after she was sentenced, a top U.S. Department of Justice official plans to personally interview Maxwell to find out if she has information about anyone who has committed crimes against Epstein's victims. It isn't clear what Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche might learn from the meeting. Maxwell has long claimed she is innocent and had no knowledge that Epstein, or anyone else, was sexually abusing teenagers. Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial in 2019, but his case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwell's links to famous people, including royals, presidents and billionaires. ADVERTISEMENT President Donald Trump has suggested in the past there was a cover-up. Now his administration is dealing with the fallout after the Justice Department initially announced two weeks ago that it would not release any more evidence about the Epstein investigation. The department has since changed course, at Trump's urging. Who is Ghislaine Maxwell? She grew up as the daughter of the late British billionaire Robert Maxwell, a former member of Parliament whose publishing empire included the Daily Mirror, one of Britain's biggest tabloid newspapers, and the book publisher Macmillan. As a college student, she became close friends with Britain's Prince Andrew, who would later invite her to royal residences, including Windsor Castle. But the Maxwell family was shattered by scandal. After Robert Maxwell fell from his yacht and died in 1991, investigators accused him of embezzling huge sums of money from his companies' pension funds. ADVERTISEMENT Soon after her father's death, Ghislaine Maxwell was photographed at a memorial sitting next to Epstein, an American money manager. Maxwell dated Epstein but later also became his employee, taking on a variety of tasks, including hiring staff for his six homes. How did Ghislaine Maxwell help Epstein? Part of Maxwell's household duties included hiring a steady stream of young people to give massages to Epstein. 'As far as I'm concerned, everyone who came to his house was an adult professional person,' she said in a deposition nearly a decade ago. But police and prosecutors said many of those 'masseuses' were underage girls who were paid for sexual acts. Epstein was arrested in 2006 in Palm Beach, Florida, after multiple girls, including students from a local high school, spoke to police. But he ultimately pleaded guilty in 2008 to a single charge of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution and served 13 months in jail. ADVERTISEMENT Maxwell wasn't charged until 2021. At her trial, four women testified that Maxwell groomed them as teenagers to participate in sexual acts with Epstein and sometimes participated in the abuse. Maxwell's lawyers argued that the women's recollections had been manipulated by lawyers pursuing civil lawsuits, pointing to inconsistencies in their testimony. A jury convicted Maxwell of sex trafficking, conspiracy and transportation of a minor for illegal sexual activity. Why do investigators want to talk to Maxwell now? The Justice Department's request to talk with Maxwell comes at a time when it is dealing with backlash from some of President Donald Trump's supporters, some of whom believe there has been a government cover-up to protect Epstein's rich and powerful friends from being implicated in his crimes. ADVERTISEMENT The department asked a judge last week to unseal transcripts of the grand jury sessions that led to indictments against Epstein and Maxwell. The Justice Department said in a memo that it had not uncovered evidence to charge anyone else in connection with Epstein's abuse. But Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on social media that '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.' He said he anticipated meeting with Maxwell in the coming days. Will she talk? It remains to be seen. One of her lawyers, David Oscar Markus, said Tuesday that they were in discussions with the government. 'Ghislaine will always testify truthfully,' he said in the statement. Maxwell did not testify at her trial but gave two lengthy depositions years ago. She repeatedly said that one of Epstein's accusers, who claimed he had trafficked her to powerful men, including Prince Andrew, was a liar who fabricated her story. Where is Ghislaine Maxwell now? Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence and is currently at a low-security federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida. Her attorneys have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after a lower court upheld her convictions last fall. ___ Follow the AP's coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein case at
CBS News
a day ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Top DOJ official plans to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell about Epstein case as House panel pursues subpoena
Washington — Todd Blanche, the second-highest ranking official at the Justice Department, said Tuesday that he plans to meet with Ghislaine Maxwell "in the coming days" about the case involving convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "Justice demands courage. For the first time, the Department of Justice is reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell to ask: what do you know?" Blanche wrote on social media. He added that he contacted Maxwell's lawyers at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi. "I intend to meet with her soon. No one is above the law — and no lead is off-limits," Blanche wrote. On Capitol Hill, a subcommittee of the House Oversight and Reform Committee approved a motion from GOP Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee that directs the committee's chairman to subpoena Maxwell to appear for a deposition, a signal of lawmakers' interest in speaking to Epstein's former partner. Blanche, who was President Trump's private defense attorney before joining the Justice Department, said that the department and the FBI continue to stand by a memo released earlier this month that concluded Epstein did not have a "client list" and confirmed that he died by suicide. The memo, which detailed the findings of a review of Epstein's case, also said there was no "credible evidence" that the disgraced financier blackmailed prominent people. The Justice Department and FBI also said they would not release any additional information about Epstein's case, and noted that the review did not uncover evidence that would prompt an investigation into uncharged third parties. "President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence," Blanche said in a second statement shared by Bondi. "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." The deputy attorney general said the Justice Department in prior administrations had not asked about her willingness to meet with the government, and he anticipates "meeting with Ms. Maxwell in the coming days." David Oscar Markus, Maxwell's lawyer, said in a statement, "I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case." Maxwell was an associate of Epstein's and convicted in 2021 for her role in helping Epstein recruit, groom and abuse underage girls. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. Her lawyers have asked the Supreme Court to take up an appeal of her conviction. Blanche's outreach to Maxwell's lawyers comes after the Justice Department asked a federal court in New York on Friday to unseal transcripts from grand jury proceedings involving Epstein. He was indicted in 2019 on one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. Federal prosecutors alleged that Epstein sexually exploited and abused dozens of underage girls from 2002 through 2005, and worked with others who set up sexual encounters with victims at Epstein's residences in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida. He died by suicide while in federal custody before his trial. Epstein had been arrested in Florida in 2006 and pleaded guilty to two state prostitution charges in 2008. In addition to asking the court to release the grand jury transcripts related to Epstein's indictment, the Justice Department also asked it to make public grand jury transcripts associated with Maxwell's case. Whether the transcripts become public will be up to the judges overseeing the cases, though the records will likely be heavily redacted to shield information related to victims. If the Justice Department's requests are granted by the court, the material is unlikely to be available immediately, and it could be weeks or months before it is unsealed. Federal rules typically require matters before a grand jury to be kept secret. The president and his administration have been dealing with backlash from Mr. Trump's allies that arose after the Justice Department released the memo about Epstein. Some top administration officials, such as Vice President JD Vance and FBI Director Kash Patel, suggested before Mr. Trump's reelection that Democrats were deliberately concealing information about Epstein and his purported list of clients. But now, with the Justice Department under Mr. Trump's control, some of his allies are skeptical of its claim that there is nothing left to disclose. Mr. Trump has tried to downplay the focus on Epstein and lashed out at some of his supporters, calling them "weaklings" who have been fooled by Democrats. He referred to claims about Epstein as the "Jeffrey Epstein Hoax." Epstein and Mr. Trump moved in the same social circles in New York and Florida from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. They were friends for years, until they had a falling out around 2004. Mr. Trump has previously acknowledged he crossed paths with Epstein in Palm Beach, but said in 2019 following Epstein's arrest that they haven't spoken in 15 years. Last week, the president lashed out at a story in the Wall Street Journal that chronicled the pair's relationship, which the president has said ended before Epstein's first arrest in 2006. The Journal reported that Mr. Trump had signed a "bawdy" letter to Epstein in the early 2000s to mark his 50th birthday that said, in part, "may every day be another wonderful secret." CBS News has not independently seen or verified the letter. Mr. Trump called the letter "fake" and filed a defamation lawsuit against the Journal's publisher, parent company News Corporation, its leader Rupert Murdoch and the reporters who wrote the Epstein story. Mr. Trump is seeking at least $20 billion in damages.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Deputy AG will meet with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, Bondi says
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Monday that Deputy Attorney Todd Blanche will meet with Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, sometime in the "coming days." "President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence. 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 the statement posted by Bondi on X. Blanche also said that the joint statement from the Justice Department and FBI on July 6 -- which stated they would not release any additional files on Epstein and that they determined there was no Epstein "client list" -- "remains as accurate today as it was when it was written." "Namely, that in the recent thorough review of the files maintained by the FBI in the Epstein case, no evidence was uncovered that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties," Blanche said. MORE: Critics say Trump trying to distract from Epstein by talking about everything but that He added that up "until now, no administration on behalf of the Department had inquired about her willingness to meet with the government." The statement comes as a growing chorus of lawmakers have called for Maxwell to testify about her relationship with Epstein, and while the department is actively opposing Maxwell's efforts to appeal her conviction for conspiring with and aiding Epstein in his sexual abuse of underage girls. David Oscar Markus, the appellate counsel for Maxwell, confirmed to ABC News that they are in talks with the government. "I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government, and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully," Markus said. "We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case." Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking and other charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022. Last week, President Donald Trump ordered the DOJ to "release all Grand Jury testimony with respect to Jeffrey Epstein, subject only to Court Approval," he said on social media. The DOJ requested in its filing, which was signed by Bondi and Blanche, for the court to "conclude that the Epstein and [Ghislaine] Maxwell cases qualify as a matter of public interest, release the associated grand jury transcripts, and lift preexisting protective orders." Solve the daily Crossword
Washington Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Justice Department seeks meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell amid Epstein outrage
Facing sustained backlash over their handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, Justice Department officials said Tuesday that they hope to meet with his imprisoned associate Ghislaine Maxwell to discuss anyone else 'who has committed crimes against victims.' The announcement, from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, is the latest effort by the administration to quell the growing outrage among some sectors of President Donald Trump's base after the Justice Department concluded this month that investigators had no additional evidence implicating 'any additional third parties to allegations of illegal wrongdoing.'
