In response to growing discontent from the American public as regards his failure to follow through on declassifying the Epstein Files — particularly after the Wall Street Journal published a birthday card Trump reportedly sent Epstein —, Donald Trump has brought Ghislaine out of her darkened dungeon into the light of day for commentary.
This is a double-bind for Trump: her testimony will surely wrap things up, but they could put Trump in a less than optimal light.
Of course, we don’t know the extent of their private discussions — but neither does Trump know what Ghislaine could have up her sleeve.
In any case, Ghislaine Maxwell has reportedly told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche that she never saw Trump do anything concerning, in two days of meetings at a Florida courthouse.
The case’s transcript may or may not be released to the public.
In one of his quintessentially cryptic comments, Trump has both said that “nobody asked” him to pardon Maxwell, but pointed out that he does have the right to do so if he chooses.
In any case, he was firm that he wouldn’t pardon Diddy.
When Ghislaine Maxwell was charged, prosecutors said that Epstein could not have done what he did without her assistance. Her lawyer maintains this was an unfair evaluation — and currently refuses to comment on why Maxwell was moved to a lower security prison, though seemingly for additional comfort.
The Texas camp only keeps female prisoners, the majority of whom are serving time for nonviolent offences and white-collar crimes (low security risk).
“Prisoners are routinely moved in some instances due to significant safety and danger concerns”, says the administrator of this federal prison.
Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for facilitating a network of often-underage prostitution to satisfy Epstein’s unusual cravings, which she was unable to satisfy alone, following six charges: sex trafficking of minors, conspiracy to entice a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors.
When asked if she was Epstein’s girlfriend, Maxwell responded calling it “a tricky question”: probably a move to further distance herself from him, as her obsession with him was self-evident.
Epstein didn’t appear to feel the same: avoiding the opportunity to clear Maxwell when he had the chance, while counselling Maxwell to defend him.
Trump praised Blanche, who “just wants to make sure that innocent people aren’t hurt”, while saying that he did not discuss the move with Blanche.
Epstein died in prison during Trump’s first mandate, in 2019.
Maxwell, meanwhile, who has not seen the documents, only agreed to talk on the condition of immunity. Freedom in exchange for information feels like a dirty exchange, and everyone knows it.
as prosecutors continued urging a court to release some of those records in the criminal case-turned-political fireball.
Maxwell is currently asking for the Supreme Court to intervene for her, and her attorney has said she is seeking “relief” from her sentence.
Asked about over 100 people, she has cleared Trump.
