Officials from the Department of Justice (DOJ) have reached out to the lawyers representing Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex offender linked to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
On Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated that he had made contact with Maxwell’s legal team “to see if she is open to speaking with the department’s prosecutor.”
“I hope to meet with Maxwell in the coming days,” Blanche mentioned. “Up until now, the administration hadn’t inquired about her willingness to engage with the government. That situation has changed.”
Blanche’s outreach is reportedly under the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondy, who has faced pushback from conservatives regarding the handling of documents tied to Epstein.
Maxwell, who has had a long affiliation with Epstein, was convicted of sex trafficking charges in 2021 and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. Earlier this year, she requested the Supreme Court to review her case, a request that the DOJ urged the court to dismiss.
The Trump administration, particularly the Justice Department, has been criticized by President Trump’s Maga base and some lawmakers in Congress, who are advocating for more transparency regarding the Epstein situation.
The backlash stems from a joint memo released by the FBI and DOJ earlier this month, which stated that Epstein lacked a “client list” and reaffirmed that he took his own life in a New York City prison in 2019.
Epstein faced numerous allegations of sex trafficking involving underage girls and was connected to a powerful network, including figures like Trump, former President Clinton, British Prince Andrew, and various celebrities.
Blanche stated on Tuesday, “The joint statement from the DOJ and FBI on July 6 remains accurate. In essence, a recent thorough review of the FBI’s files related to Epstein shows no evidence to suggest investigations against any uncharged individuals.”
Trump has expressed frustration over the continued focus on Epstein’s case, even among his supporters. However, he insists that Bondi should provide “reliable” evidence regarding the matter.
