Trump’s DOJ Moves to Question Ghislaine Maxwell in Epstein Case/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s convicted accomplice, as part of a renewed effort to uncover additional details in the Epstein investigation. The initiative follows pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration to release credible evidence and pursue new leads. Discussions between federal prosecutors and Maxwell’s attorneys are ongoing.
Epstein Case Quick Looks
- DOJ signals interest in questioning Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former partner.
- Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking.
- Deputy AG Todd Blanche confirmed discussions with her legal team.
- Trump ordered the release of credible evidence and pushed for transparency.
- DOJ also asked a court to unseal Epstein-related grand jury transcripts.
- Maxwell’s lawyer says she’s willing to testify truthfully.
- Justice officials emphasize the investigation isn’t closed to new leads.
Trump’s DOJ Moves to Question Ghislaine Maxwell in Epstein Case
Deep Look
The U.S. Department of Justice has officially opened discussions with Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted accomplice to Jeffrey Epstein, as part of a broader push to expand the investigation into the late financier’s decades-long sex trafficking operation. The outreach was confirmed Tuesday by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who emphasized that the department is prepared to pursue new leads, wherever they may lead.
Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence following her 2021 conviction for trafficking underage girls and facilitating Epstein’s abuse, is now at the center of renewed federal attention. In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Blanche said:
“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.”
Blanche added that President Donald Trump has instructed the department to pursue and release “all credible evidence” related to the Epstein case, an effort to respond to growing pressure from Trump’s base for transparency. For months, conservative lawmakers and activists have demanded the release of all names and materials tied to Epstein’s network.
A lawyer for Maxwell, David Oscar Markus, confirmed ongoing discussions with the Justice Department and said she is willing to cooperate.
“Ghislaine will always testify truthfully. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case,” Markus said in a statement.
The effort to interview Maxwell comes amid a separate DOJ push to unseal grand jury transcripts from the original Epstein investigation. The department formally asked a federal judge to authorize the release of those records last week—a move supported by Trump but subject to judicial approval.
This marks a significant shift in approach by the DOJ, which previously stated it had found no additional evidence to prosecute other individuals involved in Epstein’s criminal operation. In a memo released earlier this month, the department said there were no pending charges, drawing widespread criticism from Trump supporters and victims’ advocates.
Epstein, who was awaiting trial on federal charges when he died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019, had been accused of abusing dozens of girls over multiple decades. Prosecutors have long asserted that he relied heavily on Ghislaine Maxwell to identify and groom his victims, some as young as 14.
Though Epstein’s death closed the door on prosecuting him directly, the calls for further investigation have only intensified in the years since, particularly from critics who believe many high-profile individuals involved in his social and professional circles have avoided accountability.
Deputy AG Blanche emphasized that the Justice Department “does not shy away from uncomfortable truths” and that Attorney General Pam Bondi had directed him to begin the process of engaging with Maxwell. He said a formal meeting between federal prosecutors and Maxwell is expected “in the coming days.”
The DOJ’s move to reengage Maxwell may not lead to immediate new charges, but it signals a readiness to reopen lines of inquiry that had been considered dormant. It also reflects the Trump administration’s political strategy of aligning with public sentiment demanding greater transparency in the Epstein case, which remains one of the most controversial and conspiratorial sagas in recent U.S. history.
As of now, it remains unclear what information Maxwell might offer or whether it will lead to actionable prosecutions. What is clear, however, is that her testimony could potentially unlock new chapters in a case that many Americans feel remains unfinished.
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