The US Justice Department has requested a meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, to discuss potential information she may have about crimes committed against victims. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that prosecutors plan to ask Maxwell, “What do you know?”, and he intends to meet with her soon.
Maxwell’s legal team confirmed they are in discussions with the government, and she will “always testify truthfully”. This development comes amid mounting pressure from President Donald Trump’s supporters to release additional materials related to Epstein’s case. Despite this pressure, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the House will not vote on the release of further files until September.
Blanche emphasized that the Department of Justice “does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead.” He added that if Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and DOJ will hear what she has to say. Trump, speaking from the Oval Office, said interviewing Maxwell “sounds appropriate to do”.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in a New York prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was found guilty of helping Epstein sexually abuse young girls and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022. Her lawyer, David Oscar Markus, expressed gratitude for Trump’s commitment to uncovering the truth in this case.
Annie Farmer, one of the women who testified against Maxwell, described the “rollercoaster” of the Epstein saga as a “real weight” on accusers. She felt that too much focus has been placed on the abusers, with little new information emerging, leaving her feeling “used”. Some critics, including far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, questioned why the Maxwell interview was not conducted earlier. Loomer asked whether the DOJ had never met with Maxwell to discuss potential information about sex crimes committed against minors.
The Justice Department and FBI previously released a statement noting that a thorough review of FBI records related to Epstein’s case uncovered “no evidence to predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties”. Blanche reiterated that this statement “remains accurate”.
The DOJ has asked a federal court for permission to unseal grand jury transcripts in Epstein’s case, which may not contain the types of materials being sought by Trump’s supporters. A judge may deny this request. Legal experts, including Epstein’s former attorney Alan Dershowitz, have suggested that the government should release other materials, such as FBI reports of interviews with Epstein’s victims, and grant Maxwell immunity to testify before Congress.