The latest on Trump, Ghislaine Maxwell, and the Epstein files
The Justice Department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on what came out of the interview.
The talks follow more than two weeks of bubbling outrage from members of President Donald Trump's base over the department's announcement in early July that it won't release its files on Epstein. DOJ said a systematic review of the files didn't turn up any list of clients involved in Epstein's crimes.
Even some congressional Republicans have clamored for the files' release or introduced legislation to try to force the Trump administration's hand. Republican leadership has so far blocked the legislation and White House officials continue to resist those calls.
Still, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has suggested that Maxwell could reveal new details about Epstein's circle and crimes.
Here is all the latest on the fallout:
July 25: Maxwell lawyer signals desire for pardon
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of trafficking a minor to Epstein for sexual abuse, and for conspiring to entice and transport minors for illegal sex acts. She is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, and has an appeal pending at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Markus indicated July 25 that his client could ask for a pardon soon, following the two days she spent talking to Justice Department officials July 24-25.
"We haven't spoken to the president or anybody about a pardon just yet," he said. "The president this morning said he had the power to do so. We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way."
Trump has the power to pardon Maxwell fully as well as to commute her prison sentence. But to many, that might look more like reducing than enhancing accountability - especially if Maxwell offers little in return.
In the morning on July 25, Trump said he hasn't thought about pardoning Maxwell, but also didn't rule it out.
"I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I have not thought about," Trump said. "I certainly can't talk about pardons now."
July 25: 16% of voters in poll approve of Trump administration on Epstein
Only 16% of of voters who responded to a poll released July 25 by Emerson College Polling approved of the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files. Fifty-one percent disapproved, while 33% were neutral.
The poll surveyed 1,400 U.S. voters from July 21-22. Its margin of error is ?2.5 points, according to the polling organization.
July 23: Florida judge shields Epstein grand jury testimony
In addition to approaching Maxwell, the Justice Department asked federal judges in Florida and New York to unseal transcripts of testimony before grand juries investigating Epstein and Maxwell. If judges allow for the transcripts' release, the department said it will first redact both victim-related information and personal identifying information from the transcripts.
On July 23, federal Judge Judge Robin L. Rosenberg rejected the request in Florida, writing that she doesn't have the power to order the records' release because of a past ruling from an appeals court that presides over her trial court.
Judges in New York haven't yet ruled on the administration's requests there.
July 23: Reports emerge that AG Bondi told Trump in May he is named in Epstein files
Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump in May that he was named multiple times in the government's files on Jeffrey Epstein, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal and CNN.
A White House official did not dispute that Trump's name is mentioned in the Epstein files, telling USA TODAY that briefing binders Bondi prepared for MAGA influencers in February included the president's name. But the official rejected any suggestion that Trump engaged in wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
Being named doesn't mean the person did anything criminal.
July 22: House Speaker Mike Johnson starts summer recess early to avoid Epstein
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, announced on July 22 he is shutting down the House for its summer recess early to avoid a vote on releasing the Epstein files. Johnson said there was "no daylight" between the Trump administration and the House, and the White House needed "space" to address the issue.
Members of Congress were scheduled to leave Washington for several weeks starting July 24, but Johnson said he would cut the schedule short and end with votes on July 23.
Johnson took that step after Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, and Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, co-sponsored legislation calling for the release of the government's Epstein records.
July 22: New footage shows Epstein at Trump wedding
Archived video footage and photos revealed by CNN July 22 showed Jeffrey Epstein attended Trump's wedding to Marla Maples at the Plaza Hotel in 1993.
Maples is the second of Trump's three wives. The couple divorced in 1999.
"You've got to be kidding me," Trump told CNN when asked about the wedding photos on a phone call. He called the outlet "fake news" and hung up.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said the images were "out-of-context frame grabs of innocuous videos and pictures of widely attended events to disgustingly infer something nefarious."
July 22: House committee agrees to seek Maxwell testimony
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee agreed on July 22 to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell to testify.
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tennessee, said he pressed for the subpoena in order to learn more about Epstein's criminal conduct.
"This deposition will help the American people understand how Jeffrey Epstein was able to carry out his evil actions for so long without being brought to justice," Burchett said.
July 18: Trump sues Wall Street Journal over lewd Epstein birthday letter
On July 17, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump sent Epstein a lewd birthday letter for his 50th birthday, which took place in early 2003. Trump called the letter a "FAKE" on social media July 17 and sued the newspaper's publisher for libel on July 18.
The letter contains typewritten dialogue between "Donald" and "Jeffrey," and at a later point "Trump." In the dialogue, "Donald" says, "We have certain things in common, Jeffrey" and that, "Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?" The dialogue ends with "Trump" saying, "A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret."
The dialogue is encased within a seemingly hand-drawn outline of a naked woman, the Journal reported. The letter includes a pair of arcs denoting the woman's breasts, and a "Donald" squiggly signature mimicking pubic hair.
USA TODAY could not verify the details or origin of the letter.
Contributing: Joey Garrison, Bart Jansen, Melina Khan, Savannah Kuchar, Christopher Cann - USA TODAY
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Inside disgraced paedophile fixer Ghislaine Maxwell's new plush prison quarters - after she moaned about prisoners having sex...despite serving up underage girls to Epstein
Ghislaine Maxwell is now enjoying playing with puppies at a minimum security jail after moaning about transgender prisoners having loud sex in front of her at the last prison she was held in where guards were unable to keep her safe. Convicted sex trafficker Maxwell, 63, was in Tallahassee Federal prison in Florida before being transferred to the low-security Federal Prison Camp Bryan in southeast Texas on Thursday. She was incarcerated at Tallahassee in the summer of 2022 after being sentenced to 20-years behind bars for sickening child sex trafficking crimes which saw her recruit underage girls for her paedophile friend Jeffrey Epstein. However, sources have revealed how Maxwell struggled with witnessing explicit acts between her fellow inmates, and often bitterly complained about foul conditions in the prison. She was in an 'open unit' where sections of four bunk beds were separated by a small pony wall inside a larger 'dorm-style' room. A source said: 'The trans prisoners would have loud sex, out in the open. 'It drove Ghislaine mad. The grunting and noises kept her and other prisoners awake at night but the trans inmates didn't care what time of day it was or who saw them. They would have sex whenever they could.' Maxwell apparently also complained about the food she was being served during her time at the Florida jail. The source added: 'There was inadequate food. Ghislaine is a vegetarian and each prisoner is supposed to get 8oz of protein a day, but she was getting 2oz or less. The food was mouldy. Everyone, not just Ghislaine, complained about the food.' Prisoners had been able to supplement their food with supplies like Pot Noodles and chocolate from the prison commissary, but that has been closed for weeks because of lack of staff. Tallahassee is worlds away from the plush new low-security unit she is now held in with the likes of Theranos scammer Elizabeth Holmes and former Real Housewife of Salt Lake City Jen Shah. On Thursday, the Epstein acolyte was quietly moved to the minimum security Federal Prison Camp Bryan in southeast Texas where she will be able to purchase beauty and leisure items from the commissary, take up gardening and look after puppies. Bryan allows its female prisoners to roam the facility's sprawling grounds with limited to no perimeter fencing to keep them in. The 37-acre facility, located 100 miles outside of Houston, is home to 635 inmates, according to the prison's website, most of whom are serving time for non-violent offences and white-collar crimes. Other high-profile inmates who have been held there include Hot Pockets heiress Michelle Janavs who served five months in Bryan for bribing university officials to inflate her daughter's exam scores. Lea Fastow, the wife of Enron chief executive and fellow convicted felon Andrew Fastow, also spent 11 months at Bryan in 2005 for tax fraud after the Texas energy company collapsed. According to the prison handbook, life at the prison is centred around work, with prisoners earning up to $1.15 (87p) an hour for their labour. Many of the jobs involve food service and factory work and well behaved prisoners can even snag off-site jobs. They are allowed to spend up to $360 (£271) a month of their earnings on assigned shopping days at a commissary. Beauty products up for grabs include L'oreal Revita anti-ageing cream for $26 (£19.58), a Kerasal nailcare product for $20 (£15), and chest binders for trans prisoners for $26 (£19.58). Inmates are also allowed to take classes on foreign languages, gardening and beautification, as well as play sports, watch television and attend religious services. They are granted freedoms that are not allowed in most low security prisons, including more relaxed visiting hours, extended outside time, and lower guard-to-inmate ratios. Bryan prison has a gym kitted out with treadmills, elliptical trainers, stairmasters and a range of weights. Convicts can take part in sports including football, table tennis, softball, volleyball, weightlifting, yoga, Pilates and the Jumpstart weight loss programme. There are also picnic tables, bleachers and televisions available for prisoners to wind down. Jen Shah and Elizabeth Holmes were recently pictured working out together in the outside yard. Bryan prison subscribes to rehabilitation programmes, such as one named 'assert yourself for female offenders', where 'women learn to be assertive without trampling the rights of others', according to a DoJ document from 2020. Maxwell will rise at 6am each day for a roll-call and will have to dress in a prison-issued khaki shirt and fatigues, according to the handbook. Inmates are allowed to have one approved radio or MP3 player and can wear minimal jewellery, such as a wedding ring or a chain worth under $100 (£75.30). Breakfast is choice of a hot or continental-style meal, while the lunch and dinner menu offers standard federal prison meals such as chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, macaroni cheese and tacos. Inmates are allowed visitors during weekends and holidays, but are only allowed limited physical contact with friends and family. Victims of Maxwell and Epstein have criticised the decision to move her to Bryan low-security prison, dubbing the move 'a cover up'. A joint statement reads: 'Ghislaine Maxwell is a sexual predator who physically assaulted minor children on multiple occasions, and she should never be shown any leniency. Yet, without any notification to the Maxwell victims, the government overnight has moved Maxwell to a minimum security luxury prison in Texas. 'The American public should be enraged by the preferential treatment being given to a pedophile and a criminally charged child sex offender. 'The Trump administration should not credit a word Maxwell says, as the government itself sought charges against Maxwell for being a serial liar. This move smacks of a cover up. The victims deserve better.' While the convicted sex offender felt 'reasonably safe' in her old Florida prison, guards and prison staff expressed concerns last week after she met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche who was acting on the instructions of President Trump. 'If she had a target on her back before it has been ten time worse since last week. She has barely slept. She is constantly looking over her shoulder,' the source said. 'She has been in constant fear since the whole thing has blown up again.' Conditions inside Tallahassee were allegedly 'dire', with rat droppings and black mould in the shower areas, leaks in the roof and window plugged using female sanitary hygiene products. The air conditioning system has not worked for months. The prison ran out of medication - including chemotherapy drugs - at the end of last year. One prisoner who suffered a compound fracture of the arm did not receive medical treatment for 24 hours, according to a source. The prison spent millions on buying machines for a new welding project - to teach prisoners how to weld - but had to scrap it when guards discovered the prison's ancient electrical wiring could not support it. Maxwell was not given paper to communicate with her lawyers last week 'because they ran out of paper.' 'Tallahassee was falling apart and is chronically understaffed. The prison governor knew they could not keep Ghislaine safe with the lack of staff,' the source said. 'The main reason she was moved was because they were terrified she would come to harm. When she was in communal areas like the food hall there were not enough staff to keep her safe.' In 2023, she complained that she was living in fear at the Tallahassee facility after she ratted out two violent Cuban inmates for trying to extort her. However conditions seemed to later improve for Maxwell, who spent her days in the Florida prison teaching Pilates and etiquette classes, and she also got a job in the prison library from where she filed hundreds of grievances about conditions in the prison, including her lack of access to hair dye. Maxwell's new prison is described as 'modern and comfortable'. There had been talks about moving her to a prison in Virginia but the Texas jail was decided upon because it offers the most modern facilities and 'it is easier for them to keep her safe.' As it emerged that Maxwell had been moved to a new prison this week, reports said that it was the 63-year-old that reached out to the Department of Justice to set up meetings. She apparently requested what's known as 'proffer immunity' so that anything she revealed couldn't be used against her at a later date. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche interviewed Maxwell for several hours, as the White House grapples with the fallout of its bungled release of the so-called 'Epstein Files.' The meetings resulted in Maxwell being moved to the minimum security prison in Texas, which mostly holds white-collar criminals and, unlike the Tallahassee facility, is only for female criminals. The transfer was handled by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which was unusual, as transfers are usually led by the US Marshals Service. The move comes as Maxwell's lawyers are pushing for a pardon from Trump, who has not publicly ruled it out. Maxwell's lawyers said she would testify 'openly and honestly' to Congress in exchange for a pardon or immunity. The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Maxwell last week, with a deposition date set for August 11. But her lawyer David Oscar Markus said she would invoke her 5th Amendment right and decline to testify is her conditions, which include immunity, were not met. 'Ms. Maxwell cannot risk further criminal exposure in a politically charged environment without formal immunity. Nor is a prison setting conducive to eliciting truthful and complete testimony,' Markus said On Monday, Trump was asked about a potential pardon and replied: 'Well, I'm allowed to give her a pardon, but nobody's approached me with it.'
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Sydney Sweeney's voter registration emerges amid uproar over controversial American Eagle jeans ad
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The Guardian
6 hours ago
- The Guardian
Sydney Sweeney's Republican voter registration revealed amid jeans ad controversy
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