Ghislaine Maxwell on September 20, 2013 in New York City.
Laura Cavanaugh | Getty Images
A top Department of Justice official questioned imprisoned Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell about interactions with President Donald Trump — Epstein’s former friend — during a two-day interview in July, newly released transcripts revealed Friday.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche asked Maxwell, “Did you ever hear Mr. Epstein or anybody say that President Trump had done anything inappropriate with masseuses or with anybody in your world?” according to the transcripts.
“Absolutely never, in any context,” said Maxwell during the interview at the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida.
“I actually never saw the President in any type of massage setting,” Maxwell said after being asked about her and Epstein’s visits to the spa at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s resort and current residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
“I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody,” she told Blanche. “In the times that I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects.”
Maxwell also said she was unaware of any efforts by Epstein to blackmail people he knew over any interactions they may have had with women or girls in his orbit.
Maxwell said she could not recall specifics about an album of well-wishes she compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday, the existence of which was revealed after The Wall Street Journal reported that a “bawdy” letter sent to Epstein bore Trump’s signature.
Trump denied sending that letter and is suing the Journal for defamation over its report.
Maxwell told Blanche said she did not remember the names of anyone who sent in letters, saying, “It’s been so long.”
Asked if she recalled Trump submitting a note, she said, “I don’t.”
Blanche, in a social media post on Friday, said, “In the interest of transparency, @TheJusticeDept is releasing the complete transcript and audio of my proffer of Ms. Maxwell.”
Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for procuring underage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein.
Epstein, who killed himself in a federal jail in New York City in 2019 after being arrested on child sex trafficking charges.
Maxwell told Blanche last month that she did not believe the official findings that Epstein committed suicide.
Blanche previously served as a criminal defense lawyer for Trump in cases unrelated to Epstein.
The Trump administration has been criticized for weeks for reneging on promises to release investigative files about Epstein.
This is developing news. Check back for updates.
