Top US Justice Official Questions Ghislaine Maxwell for 2nd Day

AFP/APP

Washington: A senior official from the US Department of Justice has conducted a 2nd day of questioning with Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned accomplice of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose high-profile case continues to entangle former President Donald Trump in political controversy.

Deputy DOJ Chief Todd Blanche who also formerly served as Trump’s personal attorney—has not disclosed the details of the conversations held in two unusual meetings with Maxwell at a federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida.

Maxwell’s attorney, David Markus, told reporters Friday that his client was extensively questioned and had “answered every single question” posed to her.

“They asked about everything—every possible thing you could imagine,” Markus said outside the courthouse, though he declined to elaborate further.

He clarified, however, that no offers of clemency were made to Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.

Trump Attempts to Distance Himself

As the Epstein saga resurfaces in headlines, Trump—seeking re-election—has tried to downplay his past ties with the disgraced financier, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of trafficking underage girls to powerful associates.

“I have nothing to do with the guy,” Trump said Friday, addressing reporters before a scheduled trip to Scotland. He instead redirected scrutiny toward Democratic figures such as former President Bill Clinton and ex-Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, whom he claimed were “really close friends” of Epstein.

When asked whether he would consider a pardon or commutation for Maxwell, Trump replied: “I haven’t thought about it”—but added that he does have the legal authority to do so.

He also denied media reports that Attorney General Pam Bondi briefed him earlier this year about his name appearing in Epstein-related case files.

“No, I was never briefed. Never,” Trump said.

Epstein Files Controversy

Epstein’s death in custody sparked widespread conspiracy theories that he was silenced to protect powerful figures. While Trump had promised his supporters more revelations, his administration declared earlier this month that no new findings warranted further public disclosures.

The DOJ and FBI reiterated that Epstein died by suicide and denied the existence of any definitive “client list” of his alleged co-conspirators.

Nonetheless, the issue remains politically sensitive. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Trump’s name appeared in the DOJ’s review of the case files. Trump responded by filing a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the newspaper after it revealed he had allegedly written a sexually suggestive birthday letter to Epstein in 2003.

‘Scapegoat’ Allegation

Ahead of Friday’s session, Maxwell’s lawyer described her as a “scapegoat” and insisted she was cooperating fully.

“She’s been treated unfairly for over five years,” Markus said. “She has no reason to lie. Everything she says can be corroborated, and she’s telling the truth.”

Maxwell, convicted in 2022, was found guilty of grooming underage girls between 1994 and 2004 for Epstein’s abuse. Her legal team intends to pursue an appeal before the US Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, political tensions over the Epstein files have escalated in Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly adjourned the House session this week, sending lawmakers into summer recess a day early—avoiding what many expected to be a heated debate among Republicans over the release of the case documents.