Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for assisting Jeffrey Epstein in abusing underage girls, spoke with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in July during a two-day interview. According to the newly released transcript, Maxwell denied knowledge of any “client list” connected to Epstein and stated that she never saw Donald Trump act inappropriately. She emphasized that the former president was “never inappropriate with anybody” and described her interactions with him as “cordial and kind,” adding that she admired his achievement in becoming president.
Maxwell also insisted she never witnessed Epstein abusing anyone and claimed he was secretive about his activities. She did not implicate any other well-known figures, despite being asked about Epstein’s ties with high-profile Democrats such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, Andrew Cuomo, and George Soros. While acknowledging that she had worked with Bill Clinton on philanthropic projects and that he had used Epstein’s plane for a trip to Africa, she said he never visited Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Justice Department’s decision to release the transcripts comes amid heightened public scrutiny of Epstein’s connections and renewed political tensions, particularly as Trump faces criticism over the DOJ’s refusal to release files from its Epstein investigation. Maxwell’s lawyers argue the interview bolsters her claim of innocence, with her attorney David Markus stating that she backed up her answers with documents and credible testimony.
Maxwell gave the interview under an agreement that protected her from prosecution for self-incriminating statements, though she could still be prosecuted for lying. She had previously faced perjury charges for false testimony in 2016, but those were dropped after her 2021 conviction for sex trafficking.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on similar charges, fueling widespread conspiracy theories due to his connections with powerful figures including Trump and Bill Clinton. Despite the speculation, no one other than Epstein and Maxwell has been charged in connection with the crimes.
Following the interview, Maxwell was transferred from a low-security prison in Florida to a prison camp in Texas. She is currently appealing her conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court.
