Ghislaine Maxwell told the Justice Department in an interview last month that she admired Donald Trump and never witnessed him behave inappropriately, according to remarks she made to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche near Tallahassee, where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.
During the two-day session, Maxwell said she was friendly with Trump and admired him from the time they first met in the 1990s. “President Trump was always very cordial and very kind to me,” she said, adding that she liked him and had always liked him. She described Trump as “a gentleman in all respects.” When asked about Epstein’s relationship with Trump, Maxwell said she did not know when they met or how close they were, and she did not recall ever seeing Epstein at Trump’s house.
Blanche released the complete audio recordings and transcript of the interview, saying the material had been redacted only for the names of victims and otherwise was unchanged. He noted that the audio is divided into segments to reflect breaks during the interview, and that nothing beyond the victims’ names was removed. Maxwell’s attorney had claimed Blanche asked about “100 different people,” and Maxwell answered every question.
Blanche emphasized that the interview was a conversation and not a cooperation agreement, meaning there was no government promise to seek leniency in exchange for Maxwell’s participation. A few days after the interview, Maxwell was transferred to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas.
The recordings and transcript are part of ongoing government efforts to provide transparency as the case against Maxwell unfolds.
What this means:
– The interview adds Maxwell’s characterizations of her views on Trump and her recollections of her interactions in the 1990s, though it does not establish new legal charges.
– The DOJ’s release of the audio and transcript, with only victim names redacted, is framed by officials as a move toward transparency.
– Maxwell’s transfer to a lower-security facility after the interview may reflect routine custody changes in the wake of new information or administrative decisions.
Summary:
Maxwell asserts admiration for Trump and denies improper behavior by him, according to a recent DOJ interview. The DOJ published the full audio and transcript (with victims’ names redacted) to promote transparency, while Maxwell’s statement is presented as part of a broader, ongoing legal process.
Additional notes:
– The ongoing public interest in the connections among Epstein associates and high-profile figures may intensify scrutiny of both Maxwell’s testimony and related investigations.
– The emphasis on transparency from the DOJ could influence how future disclosures are handled, even as the legal proceedings continue.
If you’d like, I can provide a brief, reader-friendly sidebar with key dates and a timeline of Maxwell’s case to accompany this rewrite.