US justice department asks to meet Epstein conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell
"This Department of Justice does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead," Blanche said."If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say," he added. Accuser says 'rollercoaster' of Epstein files saga is a 'real weight' on victimsWhy the Epstein case looms large in MAGA worldRisky strategy for Trump as he escalates Epstein row with loyal supportersBlanche, who was a personal attorney for Trump in his 2024 criminal trial, said that a recent 6 July statement from the justice department and FBI "remains accurate".He added that "in the recent thorough review of the files maintained by the FBI in the Epstein case, no evidence was uncovered that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties".Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in a New York prison cell in 2019 while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell was found guilty of helping Epstein sexually abuse young girls. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022.On Tuesday, her lawyer David Oscar Markus said in a statement: "We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case."
Earlier this year, Maxwell urged the Supreme Court to review her case. The justice department pushed the court to reject that appeal last week.Throughout the course of Maxwell's 2022 trial, four women testified that they had been abused as minors at Epstein's homes in Florida, New York, New Mexico and the Virgin Islands.One of those women, Annie Farmer, said her only sense of justice came from the conviction of Maxwell.She told the BBC in an interview this week that the "rollercoaster" of the Epstein saga was a "real weight" on accusers, adding that too much focus has been paid to the abusers with little new information emerging, leaving her feeling "used".The justice department's meeting invitation has already been critiqued by some in the MAGA world. Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist who has the ear of Trump, questioned why the Maxwell interview was not done "on day 1". "I guess what I want to know is whether the DOJ is basically saying they have never met with Ghislaine Maxwell to ask her or interview her about whether she has information about sex crimes committed against minors," Ms Loomer wrote on social media.Despite the pressure, House Speaker Mike Johnson said his chamber will not vote on releasing the Epstein files before September.
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