In a recent disclosure, records from the Justice Department reveal that Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein, consistently denied witnessing any sexually inappropriate interactions involving Donald Trump. Released on Friday, these records aim to distance the former president from the notorious financier amidst ongoing scrutiny over their past connections.
The Trump administration has published hundreds of pages of transcripts from interviews conducted by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche with Maxwell, as part of an effort to demonstrate transparency. This move comes in response to significant backlash regarding the administration's earlier reluctance to disclose records related to Epstein's sex-trafficking case.
During the interviews, Maxwell expressed admiration for Trump, stating, “I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting. I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects.” This testimony is particularly significant given the ongoing discussions surrounding Trump's past relationship with Epstein and the administration's challenges in handling the evidence from the case.
Maxwell discussed her initial acquaintance with Trump, recalling that it may have occurred in 1990, during her father Robert Maxwell's ownership of the New York Daily News. She noted that her contact with Trump ceased in the mid-2000s, emphasizing that she had not heard any allegations of inappropriate behavior from Epstein or anyone else regarding Trump. “Absolutely never, in any context,” Maxwell asserted when asked if she had ever heard Epstein or others suggest that Trump had engaged in misconduct.
Maxwell's interviews were conducted over two days at a Florida courthouse, during which she was granted limited immunity. This legal protection allowed her to speak candidly without fear of prosecution, except in instances where she might lie or contradict previous statements. Following the interviews, Maxwell was transferred from a low-security federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas, though the reasons for this move remain unclear.
The Epstein case has drawn considerable public interest, particularly due to Epstein's connections with high-profile individuals, including Prince Andrew and former President Bill Clinton. Trump's relationship with Epstein has been a topic of speculation, especially after Epstein's arrest in 2019 on sex-trafficking charges. Epstein was accused of abusing numerous teenage girls and was found dead in a New York jail cell a month later, a death ruled a suicide.
Amidst the turmoil surrounding the Epstein case, the Trump administration has faced significant criticism, particularly following an abrupt announcement from the FBI and Justice Department stating that Epstein had committed suicide. This statement has fueled conspiracy theories and outrage among Trump supporters who anticipated evidence of a government cover-up.
In a bid to quell dissatisfaction within his base, Trump sought to shift focus away from the Epstein discussions during a White House Cabinet meeting, labeling those questioning the administration's actions as “weaklings” who believed in the so-called “Jeffrey Epstein Hoax.” Tensions have reportedly surfaced within the administration, with notable disagreements emerging between officials regarding the handling of Epstein-related documents.
The released transcripts from Maxwell's interviews provide critical insights into her relationship with Trump and her views on the allegations surrounding Epstein. As the Trump administration continues to navigate the fallout from the Epstein case, these records may play a crucial role in shaping public perception and addressing ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability.
