Former federal prosecutors, who were involved in the Watergate investigation regarding ex-President Nixon, are urging the U.S. government to interview Ghislane Maxwell, a convicted sex offender and associate of Jeffrey Epstein. They describe this situation as a rare occurrence.
“This is really unusual; there isn’t often a second person going to the Department of Justice,” one prosecutor remarked during a CNN interview, mentioning attorney Akerman.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) chose not to comment on these statements or the process of arranging a new meeting with Maxwell this week.
Akerman, a special prosecutor during the Watergate scandal of the 1970s, was part of the team that investigated the events leading to Nixon’s resignation.
Epstein passed away in prison in 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges, with Trump previously urging supporters to look past the incident.
On Thursday, the DOJ dispatched Associate Attorney General Todd Blanche to meet with Maxwell at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tallahassee. This meeting occurs while the Trump administration faces criticism from segments of the Republican Party regarding its handling of Epstein-related files.
Trump stated to reporters on Tuesday that although he believed the meeting was appropriate, he hadn’t been informed about it beforehand. “I had no idea they were doing that. I don’t keep up with it as much. It’s kind of a witch hunt,” he said.
It’s not just the DOJ that is monitoring Maxwell’s interviews. The House of Representatives Surveillance and Government Reform Subcommittee voted on Tuesday to summon her for a deposition.
This week, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) expressed doubt about whether Maxwell would provide truthful testimony. “We all value transparency, and we will utilize our authority to make sure it’s achieved,” he told reporters, outlining the House’s commitment to gathering more information. “If they believe it’s necessary to bring Ghislane Maxwell in for testimony, that’s fine.”
Johnson raised concerns about her reliability as a witness: “Can she really be trusted to tell the truth?”
Blanche, who previously worked with Trump’s legal team, indicated that he is eager to uncover any new information, regardless of it being related to a particular individual. He stated, “If Ghislane Maxwell has any details about those who harmed the victims, the FBI and DOJ will be eager to hear her side.”
