Donald Trump officials seek meeting with caged Ghislaine Maxwell on Epstein case
The move is an unprecedented outreach to the jailed British socialite. Todd Blanche, the US Deputy Attorney General, said that both the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the FBI had contacted Maxwell, the former girlfriend and 'madam' of Epstein, to open discussions. Maxwell, 63, is currently serving a 20-year sentence in a Florida federal prison after being convicted of sex trafficking and conspiring to recruit and groom underage girls for the late paedophile.
In a message posted by US Attorney General Pam Bondi on social media, Blanche said: 'President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence. If Ghislaine Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DoJ will hear what she has to say.
'Therefore, at the direction of Attorney General Bondi, I have communicated with counsel for Ms Maxwell to determine whether she would be willing to speak with prosecutors from the Department. I anticipate meeting with Ms Maxwell in the coming days.'
The development marks the first time a US administration has publicly acknowledged contact with Maxwell on behalf of the Justice Department. Blanche said: 'No previous administration had made contact with Maxwell on behalf of the Department of Justice. That changes now.'
The move comes amid growing political pressure on Trump over his handling of the Epstein case and his administration's failure to release all relevant files connected to the convicted sex offender.
Earlier this month, the FBI and the DoJ concluded there was no 'client list' linked to Epstein's alleged sex trafficking ring and said the disgraced financier had taken his own life in a New York jail cell in 2019. The findings triggered anger among Trump's own MAGA base.
Conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein's death have circulated for years, with many of the president's supporters claiming he was murdered to prevent sensitive information about elite associates from being revealed. Trump's critics have accused the administration of attempting to deflect growing scrutiny over the case by pursuing Maxwell, who has previously said little publicly about Epstein's network of powerful contacts.
Alan Dershowitz, Epstein's former lawyer, praised the move and described Maxwell as the key to unlocking the case.
'She knows everything. She is the Rosetta Stone. She knows everything. She arranged every single trip with everybody. She knows everything,' he said. Dershowitz added that Maxwell should be offered legal immunity in exchange for testifying freely before Congress. 'She should be given the opportunity to speak honestly without fear of further prosecution,' he said.
The White House has not commented on whether Maxwell would be invited to testify under oath before Congress or the public.
Trump's personal connection to Epstein has long been the subject of concern.
The pair were known to socialise throughout the late 1980s and early 2000s. A 2002 quote from Trump in New York Magazine described Epstein as a 'terrific guy' and added, 'It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.'
In 2019, Trump claimed he had 'a falling out' with Epstein many years ago and was 'not a fan.' However, critics have continued to question the extent of their friendship, particularly after Trump's decision early in his presidency to end a federal investigation into Epstein's previous conviction.
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