Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for assisting Jeffrey Epstein in sexually abusing underage girls, told a senior Justice Department official in July that she was unaware of any “client list” related to Epstein and had never observed President Donald Trump behave inappropriately, according to a transcript of her recent interview released on Friday.
“I have never seen the President in any improper situation,” Maxwell stated during her two-day interview last month with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “He was never inappropriate with anyone.”
In the interview, Maxwell, 63, also claimed she never witnessed any sexual misconduct by Epstein, her former partner, nor did she implicate other notable figures in misconduct.
“Epstein kept a lot to himself and didn’t like to share,” Maxwell explained. “He was not very forthcoming—at least, not with me.”
The release of Maxwell’s interview transcripts and audio recordings comes amid heightened public interest in Epstein, a multimillionaire known for his associations with influential figures in culture and politics. This occurs as Trump, a Republican, attempts to manage a political controversy sparked by the Justice Department’s decision not to release certain files from its Epstein investigation, despite prior commitments to do so.
Maxwell agreed to the interview on the condition that she would not be prosecuted for any self-incriminating statements, although she could face charges if she lied.
Previously, Maxwell faced perjury charges for lying under oath in a 2016 deposition regarding her knowledge of Epstein’s alleged activities. Those charges were dropped after her conviction for sex trafficking in 2021.
During her month-long trial in Manhattan, jurors heard emotional and explicit testimony from four women who claimed Maxwell recruited and groomed them for Epstein’s abuse. Three of these women said Maxwell herself touched their bare breasts or participated in the encounters, which often started with massages.
Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. He pleaded not guilty.
Epstein’s death, combined with his associations with powerful individuals such as Trump and Bill Clinton, has fueled conspiracy theories suggesting others involved in his crimes, and theories claiming he was murdered to hide complicity. So far, only Epstein and Maxwell have been formally charged.
Blanche asked Maxwell if Epstein ever kept a “client list.”
“I’m not aware of any list,” Maxwell replied.
Maxwell, who entered a not guilty plea to her 2020 criminal charges, has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. Her attorney, David Markus, stated that the interview supports Maxwell’s innocence, pointing out that she provided documents and objective evidence to corroborate her answers. Markus also noted her credible demeanor.
He previously stated Maxwell has not discussed any potential pardon with Trump but would welcome such relief.
During the interview on July 24 and 25, Maxwell’s statements emerged as Trump sought to address criticism from his conservative supporters and Democratic lawmakers regarding the Justice Department’s refusal to release Epstein-related files.
A week after her interview, Maxwell was transferred from a low-security Florida facility to a less-restrictive prison camp in Texas.
Trump knew Epstein socially during the 1990s and early 2000s. During Maxwell’s trial, Epstein’s longtime pilot, Lawrence Visoski, testified that Trump frequently flew on Epstein’s private plane. Trump has denied ever flying on Epstein’s aircraft.
Maxwell told Blanche she never saw Trump accept a massage or partake in any other inappropriate conduct. Many Epstein victims describe their unwanted sexual experiences as beginning with massages.
“From my perspective, President Trump was always very gracious and kind toward me,” Maxwell said. “And I want to acknowledge his remarkable achievement of becoming President.”
It is uncommon for a senior Justice Department official, especially one like Blanche who has also served as Trump’s personal lawyer, to directly interview a defendant.
Maxwell discussed her interactions with several prominent Democrats, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and billionaire Democratic donor George Soros. She did not suggest any wrongdoing by these individuals.
She mentioned working with Bill Clinton on philanthropic activities and that he used Epstein’s private plane for a trip to Africa. However, she stated Clinton never visited Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein was accused of abusing young girls.
