Trump-Epstein latest: DOJ to interview Ghislaine Maxwell as White House bans WSJ from president's travel pool and House speaker blocks votes
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the Department of Justice wants to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend. Maxwell was convicted in 2020 of helping the disgraced financier sexually abuse underage girls and is currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison.
"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," Blanche said in a statement posted to X, adding that he has reached out to her counsel and anticipates meeting with her "in the coming days."
In a statement to the Associated Press, David Oscar Markus, a lawyer for Maxwell, confirmed that they were 'in discussions with the government' and that Maxwell will 'always testify truthfully.'
'We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case,' the statement added.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said that he did not know about Blanche's overture to Maxwell, but added that it 'sounds appropriate.'
'I didn't know that they were going to do it,' Trump said. 'I don't really follow that too much. It's sort of a witch hunt, just a continuation of the witch hunt.'
The Epstein fallout
The announcement comes amid a fierce backlash from some of Trump's supporters over the administration's handling of its investigation into Epstein, who died by suicide in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial.
Epstein has long been the focus of conspiracy theories that claim Epstein was murdered to conceal the names of powerful people on a secret 'client list.' Trump said he would consider releasing additional government files on Epstein and directed the Justice Department to conduct an exhaustive review of any evidence collected in its investigation.
Earlier this month, the DOJ and FBI released a two-page joint memo, concluding that Epstein 'committed suicide in his cell" and had no such 'client list.' The move enraged some Trump loyalists, who accused the president and his administration of breaking their promise to release all of the Epstein files, and put Trump's relationship with Epstein back in the spotlight.
White House bans WSJ from travel pool over Epstein report
Late last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump sent Epstein a racy birthday letter in 2003. According to the Journal, Trump's letter, along with dozens of others, was part of a leather-bound book put together by Maxwell for the since-disgraced financier's 50th birthday.
'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret,' Trump's letter concluded in a typewritten message to Epstein, per the Journal.
The text was 'framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with heavy marker,' the report stated. 'A pair of small arcs denotes the woman's breasts, and the future president's signature is a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking pubic hair.'
Trump denied the report, calling it 'false, malicious, and defamatory,' and sued the newspaper and its owner, Rupert Murdoch.
Also read: What Trump has said about Epstein through the years, from 'terrific guy' to 'creep' that 'nobody cares about'
On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the paper would be excluded from the pool of news organizations covering Trump's upcoming trip to Scotland.
'Thirteen diverse outlets will participate in the press pool to cover the President's trip to Scotland,' Leavitt said in a statement. 'Due to the Wall Street Journal's fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the 13 outlets on board.'
The New York Times, a rival newspaper to the Journal, blasted the White House's decision.
'The White House's refusal to let one of the nation's leading news organizations cover the highest office in the country is an attack on core constitutional principles underpinning free speech and free press,' the Times said in a statement. 'Americans regardless of party deserve to know and understand the actions of the president and reporters play a vital role in advancing the public interest. This is simple retribution by a president against a news organization for doing reporting that he doesn't like.
House speaker sends members home early, blocking Epstein vote
House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Tuesday that he would send House members home early for their August recess, blocking any votes related to the Epstein matter.
Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said that he wants to give the White House 'space' to release more Epstein files on its own.
His decision comes despite intense pressure from some members of his own party who are demanding more transparency from the Trump administration on its Epstein investigation.
'We're done being lectured on transparency,' Johnson said at a news conference on Tuesday.
Last week, at least 10 House Republicans joined an effort launched by Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie and California Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to force a symbolic floor vote on the release of more Epstein files.
Congress does not have the authority to compel the Justice Department to release the files, but any vote would amount to a loyalty test among House Republicans regarding the Epstein case.
Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee also voted Tuesday to subpoena Maxwell.
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