Ghislaine Maxwell’s interview transcription to the Justice Department does not add much to what is already known about Epstein. But there are some points to emphasize
The Justice Department released on Friday the long-awaited transcripts of an interview a few weeks ago with Ghislaine Maxwell, a partner of Jeffrey Epstein.
The interview with Maxwell was one of two measures taken by the White House to try to calm the indignation about the treatment given to Epstein’s archives, which shook the Trump administration for weeks and made even many supporters of the president revolt.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and other employees created expectation around Epstein’s documents before retreating to the promises of making them public. Trump also made a series of false and misleading statements that led Epstein victims to suggest a cover -up.
The other great measure of the government – requesting the disclosure of the testimonials of the great jury – did not have much effect. In fact, two judges suggested that it was a “fun maneuver” intended to seem transparent without really being.
The interview with Maxwell conducted by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also does not add much to public knowledge about Epstein’s case. But there are some important points that is worth analyzing – especially in the broader context of the government’s mismanagement of the case.
Here’s what we need to know about transcription:
Maxwell is not being sincere, which impairs the exercise
This interview points out the first time that the White House has a disclosure of information of this magnitude, as long as its attempt to end the issue was unsuccessful last month. On Friday, the Trump administration sent documents about Epstein to a Commission of the Chamber of Representatives that had requested them, but these documents have not yet been released.
But it was always a strange choice, given that Maxwell is a convicted sexual criminal and still awaits a decision of his appeals. The Justice Department in Trump’s first term also described it as a blatant liar. So what can add now in terms of value?
Not much, it seems.
Great headlines report that Maxwell doesn’t imply anyone – including Trump – in any irregularity and that Epstein didn’t have a customer list. But these statements could have more weight if Maxwell had confessed to his own mistakes and those of Epstein.
Maxwell didn’t do that clearly. In fact, he launched repeated doubts about these mistakes.
He denied Epstein to pay him millions of dollars to recruit young women. Denied having witnessed any non -consensual sexual act. And denied having seen anything “inadequate” by “any man” – apparently including Epstein.
“Never, I have never seen any man do something inappropriate with a woman of any age,” said Maxwell. “I have never seen inappropriate habits.”
Other Maxwell answers also question their credibility.
In another case, Maxwell stated that Epstein had no “inappropriate” chambers in his homes in New York, Caraíbas, New Mexico and Paris. The cameras at his residence in Palm Beach, Florida were used because money was being stolen. But Epstein’s seven -story dwelling in Manhattan was equipped with cameras, the various victims of Epstein reported the existence of a hidden chamber network.
On another occasion, Maxwell indicated that he did not remember recruiting a Trump’s resort masseur, apparently denying Virginia Giuffre’s allegation that Maxwell recruited her.
“I never recruited a sea-lag masseuse for that, as much as I remember.”
But the next day Maxwell said something different.
“I don’t remember anyone that I recruited. But it is not impossible for me to have asked someone from there [de Mar-a-Lago] to go there. ”
If Maxwell was not willing to confess his own crimes, should we really expect her to clarify anything else?
Maxwell’s response about Epstein’s death will probably raise more doubts
Although the interview has not clarified much, in a way, it will probably raise more questions.
At the beyond, Maxwell agreed, at least in part, with those who presented conspiracy theories about Epstein’s death, which many attribute suicide.
“I can’t believe he died from suicide, no,” Maxwell replied. Asked who could have killed Epstein, he replied that he didn’t know.
Maxwell diverged from many of Epstein’s death theories by saying that he did not believe he had been killed because he was blackmailing people. Instead, he suggested that it could have been an unreeding attack.
“In prison, where I am, they kill or pay for someone to do it-someone can pay a prisoner to kill you for $ 25. That is the current price for a murder,” said Maxwell.
Todd Blanche made a point of emphasizing this distinction, repeatedly returning to the subject.
The government Epstein died for suicide, but the information he released – including a video of prison – raised doubts about the reliability of the evidence.
Maxwell has obvious problems of credibility and would not necessarily have any privileged information on how Epstein died. The former Epstein partner guarantees that he never contacted him or visited him in prison. But recent investigation shows that 60% of Americans believe the White House is “hiding information” about Epstein’s death.
Now Epstein’s main accomplice apparently told Administration that this is not true.
The compliments to Trump
One of the big questions in preparing for the interview was whether Maxwell was using this opportunity to try to obtain concessions from Trump administration – and was adapting his testimony according to that.
His lawyer, David Markus, spent the weeks prior to praising Trump and even suggesting a possible forgiveness or legal intervention in his underway resources.
Maxwell was also recently transferred to a lower prison establishment, to which she, as a sexual criminal, does not seem to be eligible without exemption. Administration has not yet explained why this transfer.
And Maxwell’s testimony doesn’t refute exactly that she wants something from Trump.
At one point, he made a brief statement to spontaneously praise the political success of the Republican president.
“I just want to say that I admire his extraordinary achievement by becoming president now,” said Maxwell, referring to Trump: “And I like him, I always liked him.”
Trump also said friendly things about Maxwell, including a bizarre statement to want to be well – several times – after she was accused in 2020. Trump also left the possibility of giving her a forgiveness around this interview to Todd Blanche, who has worked as Trump’s personal lawyer.
Blanche explained to Maxwell that she had limited immunity for the interview, but also made a point of stressing: “I promise not to do anything for yourself.”
Names were revealed and Maxwell refutes Trump
When the Justice Department announced last month that it would not disclose more information, he cited the desire not to challenge people who were not accused of crimes. Trump himself said several times that he wanted to avoid this.
But curiously, the government now seems to have changed its stance on this matter.
Transcripts hide only the names of the victims and maintain the names of known people mentioned by Maxwell and Blanche.
This includes not only the names of Trump and former President Bill Clinton, but also the Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Harvey Weinstein, a former consisting and many others. Maxwell mentioned some men who received massages but never spoke of irregularities.
Maxwell explicitly said that he never observed Trump to receive a massage. About Clinton, he said, “I can’t believe he did that.” About Kennedy, he replied, “I’ve never seen anything inappropriate with Mr. Kennedy.”
Maxwell also seemed to refute one of Trump’s often repeated statements about Epstein – that the 42nd president was actually closer to him than Trump. Trump said on several occasions that Clinton visited the island of Epstein dozens of times – even suggesting that they were 28.
But this seemed to be based on a completely wrong interpretation of available information. And Maxwell said Clinton never visited the island.
“He was never [a Mar-a-Lago]”Said Maxwell, referring to Clinton.“ He never went. And I’m sure of that because there’s no way he went – I can’t believe he would have gone to the island if I wasn’t there. ”
But once again, Maxwell’s crimes put his testimony in question. Although he had seen any man involved in inappropriate acts, Maxwell was convicted of participating in a man’s actions: Epstein.
