Ghislaine Maxwell, serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking underage girls, told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in a July interview that President Donald Trump never behaved inappropriately in her presence and that no “client list” belonging to Jeffrey Epstein exists.
The Justice Department released transcripts and audio recordings of the two-day interview on Friday, revealing Maxwell’s adamant defence of Trump whilst denying knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities. The 337-page transcript shows the 63-year-old convicted sex trafficker repeatedly praising the President and distancing herself from her former partner’s crimes.
“I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way,” Maxwell stated during the interview conducted on 24 and 25 July. “The President was never inappropriate with anybody.”
Key Revelations from the Interview
Maxwell’s statements come as the Trump administration faces criticism over its handling of the Epstein case files. The imprisoned former British socialite told Blanche she never observed Trump receiving massages or engaging in sexual behaviour, addressing longstanding questions about the President’s relationship with Epstein.
“I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting,” Maxwell said. In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects.
When questioned about an alleged “client list,” Maxwell was unequivocal. “There is no list that I am aware of,” she told prosecutors, adding that Epstein did not maintain a “black book” containing names of famous associates.
The interview, conducted with Maxwell under limited immunity, also revealed her scepticism about Epstein’s death. “I do not believe” he died by suicide, Maxwell stated, though she provided no evidence for this claim.
Political Context and Timing
The transcript release coincided with the Justice Department delivering the first tranche of Epstein-related documents to the House Oversight Committee, which had subpoenaed the records earlier this month. Democrats accused the administration of releasing Maxwell’s interview to distract from criticism over withholding the full Epstein files.
This release today is to distract from the broader question of why Pam Bondi and Donald Trump refused to release the full Epstein files,” said Representative Robert Garcia, a Democrat on the House Oversight Committee.
The unusual interview involved Deputy Attorney General Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal defence lawyer during his criminal trials. Legal experts questioned the appropriateness of such a senior official conducting the interview personally.
Maxwell’s Criminal Conviction
Maxwell was convicted in December 2021 on five counts related to recruiting and grooming teenage girls for Epstein to sexually abuse between 1994 and 2004. Four women testified at her Manhattan trial, providing emotional accounts of how Maxwell recruited them for abuse.
Prosecutors proved Maxwell participated directly in the abuse, with victims testifying she touched their bare breasts and took part in sexual encounters that often began as massages. She received a 20-year sentence in June 2022.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said at the time: “This sentence sends a strong message that no one is above the law and it is never too late for justice.”
Interview Details and Conditions
Blanche granted Maxwell limited immunity for the interview, meaning her statements could not be used against her in future prosecutions unless she lied. However, Maxwell had previously been charged with perjury for lying in a 2016 deposition about Epstein’s behaviour.
“Whatever you talk about today, you have what’s called immunity,” Blanche told Maxwell. “The exception is if you say something today that’s not true, that’s a lie, we can bring a prosecution against you for what’s called false statements.”
During the questioning, Maxwell attempted to distance herself from Epstein’s crimes whilst stopping short of directly accusing him. “I never saw that with them at all,” she said regarding abuse allegations, but added, “I’m not saying that Mr Epstein did not do those things. I am not here to defend him.”
Comments on Other Prominent Figures
The interview covered Maxwell’s knowledge of various high-profile individuals connected to Epstein. She stated that former President Bill Clinton never visited Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, though he used Epstein’s plane for a trip to Africa.
Maxwell said she never witnessed inappropriate behaviour from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom she described going “dinosaur bone hunting in the Dakotas” with her and Epstein.
When asked about Prince Andrew, Maxwell contradicted previous reports, stating: “That is a flat untruth. I’ll start with that,” regarding claims she introduced the British royal to Epstein.
Prison Transfer and Clemency Speculation
Days after the interview, Maxwell was transferred from a low-security facility in Florida to Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas, a minimum-security facility considered among the best in the federal system. The White House denied she received “preferential treatment.”
Maxwell’s attorney, David Markus, said the interview supports his client’s innocence claims. “She supported her answers with documents and other objective evidence. Her demeanour and credibility are clear for anyone to hear,” Markus stated.
The timing and nature of the interview have fuelled speculation about a potential presidential pardon or commutation. Maxwell concluded her remarks by praising Trump: “As far as I’m concerned, President Trump was always very cordial and very kind to me. And I just want to say that I admire his extraordinary achievement in becoming the President now.”
Legal Analysis and Scepticism
CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig questioned the credibility of Maxwell’s statements, noting her conviction for sex trafficking minors. “I don’t know how DOJ could put this out there as some sort of truth-teller telling us the truth. It’s really hard to swallow,” Honig said.
Legal experts also criticised Blanche’s interviewing style as “odd” for a prosecutor, raising questions about the administration’s motives in conducting and releasing the interview.
Maxwell has appealed her conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that a 2007 non-prosecution agreement Epstein reached with Florida prosecutors should have prevented her New York prosecution. Lower courts have rejected this argument.
Ongoing Investigation
The Justice Department’s release represents the latest development in the politically charged aftermath of the Epstein case. Trump had campaigned on promises to release all Epstein-related files, creating expectations among his supporters that powerful individuals would be exposed.
The House Oversight Committee continues pressing for full disclosure of investigative materials, whilst the administration maintains some documents must remain sealed to protect victims and ongoing investigations.
As the controversy continues, Maxwell remains imprisoned, her statements now part of the public record in a case that continues to captivate public attention years after Epstein’s death.
