The Justice Department has released the transcripts of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s interview with Jeffrey Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in helping Epstein recruit, groom and abuse young girls. Blanche interviewed her last month over two days in Tallahassee, Florida. In the interview, Maxwell told Blanche she never witnessed President Donald Trump, who was once friends with Epstein, doing anything “inappropriate.”
“I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting,” Maxwell said, according to the transcripts. “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.”
Blanche then asked: “Did you ever hear Mr. Epstein or anybody say that President Trump had done anything inappropriate with masseuses or with anybody in your world?”
“Absolutely never, in any context,” Maxwell replied.
Here are the key points from Maxwell’s interview:
- Maxwell said she ‘absolutely never’ saw Trump behaving inappropriately with anyone in Epstein’s circle.
- Maxwell does not believe Epstein died by suicide in his jail cell in New York in August 2019 – but said she had no idea who might have been responsible.
- Maxwell said she never employed a masseuse from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
- Maxwell praised Trump during the interview, saying he has accomplished an “extraordinary achievement in becoming the President now.”
- Maxwell said she was paid up to $250,000 a year by Epstein but wanted to become “independent.”
- Maxwell claimed she did not introduce Epstein to Prince Andrew.
Maxwell told Blanche she met Trump in the 1990s through her father. She described Trump as “always very cordial and very kind to me.” Maxwell said she admires Trump’s “extraordinary achievement in becoming the President now.”
“And I like him, and I’ve always liked him,” she added. “So that is the sum and substance of my entire relationship with him.”
Maxwell said she doesn’t “recall” any masseuses from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate giving Epstein a private massage, and that she doesn’t remember recruiting any masseuses from the estate. This comes after Trump claimed last month that Epstein “stole” young women working at his Mar-a-Lago spa, including Epstein’s alleged victim Virginia Giuffre.
“Do you know whether masseuses from Mar-a-Lago’s spa ended up giving massages to — private massages to Mr. Epstein?” Blanche asked. “I’m not asking for what you may have read, but from — at the time, from your personal knowledge, do you know whether that’s true?”
“I — I don’t — I don’t recall,” Maxwell responded. “Is it possible? Yes. But I don’t remember – I don’t remember that. So I don’t want to — I don’t recall that, but it’s possible.”
Blanche then asked: “Do you have a recollection of you ever recruiting a masseuse from Mar-a-Lago spa to give — to go give a private massage to Mr. Epstein?”
“I’ve never recruited a masseuse from Mar-a-Lago for that, as far as I remember,” Maxwell said. “I can’t ever recollect doing that.”
Blanche also asked Maxwell about Epstein’s death. Epstein died by suicide in a New York City jail cell in 2019, shortly after he was arrested on sex trafficking charges. While there have been conspiracy theories surrounding his death, the Justice Department and FBI confirmed in a memo last month that he died by suicide.
Blanche said: “Do you — so you think he was — he did not die by suicide, given all the things we just talked about.”
“I do not believe he died by suicide, no,” Maxwell responded.
“And do you believe that — do you have any speculation or view of who killed him?” Blanche asked.
“I — no, I don’t,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell was also asked about other famous people that she and Epstein may have been connected with, including former President Bill Clinton. Blanche asked if Maxwell was aware of Clinton ever visiting Epstein’s private island.
“He never. Absolutely never went,” Maxwell responded. “And I can be sure of that because there’s no way he would’ve gone — I don’t believe there’s any way that he would’ve gone to the island, had I not been there. Because I don’t believe he had an independent friendship, if you will, with Epstein.”
The interview came as the Trump administration faced blowback over its handling of the Epstein investigation. The Justice Department and FBI released a memo on July 7 indicating there would be no further disclosures related to the Epstein sex trafficking investigation. The move was slammed by Democrats and Republicans alike, who have since demanded more transparency on the investigation.
Earlier today, the House Oversight Committee also received the first round of Epstein files from the Justice Department, the Associated Press reports. This comes after the committee subpoenaed the files earlier this month.
“The Committee intends to make these records public after thorough review to ensure any victims’ identification and child sexual abuse material are redacted,” a spokesperson for Oversight Committee Chair James Comer said. “The Committee will also consult with the DOJ to ensure any documents released do not negatively impact ongoing criminal cases and investigations.”
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email [email protected], or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
