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الوسم: Maxwell

  • Bill Clinton to be questioned over Epstein connections

    Bill Clinton to be questioned over Epstein connections

    Former U.S. President Bill Clinton is set to face questions from a congressional committee on Friday regarding his well-known associations with Jeffrey Epstein. This comes as Democrats aim to redirect attention toward Donald Trump’s connections to the convicted sex offender.

    Clinton appears prominently in recent Epstein files, yet he maintains he severed ties with Epstein before the financier’s 2008 conviction for sex crimes. Merely being mentioned in the Justice Department’s released files doesn’t suggest any misconduct, and Clinton has not been formally accused or investigated.

    He followed his wife, Hillary Clinton, who testified Thursday, demanding that Trump—who also had dealings with Epstein—must also testify before Congress.

    “If this committee truly wants to uncover the truth about Epstein’s trafficking activities… they should ask Trump directly—under oath—about his numerous appearances in Epstein’s files,” Hillary said in a statement made online.

    The testimonies are taking place in private, despite the Clintons’ calls for openness and live broadcasts. Bill Clinton criticized the private sessions, comparing them to a “kangaroo court.”

    This inquiry poses a greater risk for Clinton, who has acknowledged he was in contact with Epstein but insists he never visited Epstein’s private Caribbean island. Epstein, known for his associations with the world’s wealthy and powerful, was convicted in 2008 for soliciting sex from minors as young as 14. He died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

    The House Oversight Committee, led by Republicans, is investigating individuals linked to Epstein, especially following the release of millions of new documents from the Justice Department.

    Hillary Clinton affirmed she never flew on Epstein’s plane nor visited his island. Though the Clintons initially refused to testify, they agreed after threats from House Republicans to hold them in contempt.

    In her opening statement, Hillary emphasized that the committee’s subpoena was based on assumptions she has information about Epstein and Maxwell’s criminal activities—she’s made it clear she does not.

    Critics argue the investigation is being used as a political weapon against Trump’s opponents rather than for legitimate oversight.

    The newly released Epstein files include previously unseen photos: one shows Clinton relaxing in a hot tub, with part of the image obscured, and another depicts him swimming alongside a woman resembling Ghislaine Maxwell.

    Clinton has acknowledged flying aboard Epstein’s private plane multiple times in the early 2000s for humanitarian work connected to the Clinton Foundation.

    Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyer, David Markus, recently stated that both Clinton and Trump are “innocent of any wrongdoing.”

    Depositions are scheduled in Clinton’s hometown of Chappaqua, New York, where many journalists gathered, and the Secret Service set up barricades around the venue.

    After Hillary’s testimony concluded, Republican committee Chairman James Comer said lawmakers had “a lot of questions for her husband tomorrow.”

  • Ghislaine Maxwell Asks Trump for Clemency Ahead of Testimony

    Ghislaine Maxwell Asks Trump for Clemency Ahead of Testimony

    Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer questions from U.S. lawmakers on Monday, citing her Fifth Amendment rights to avoid self-incrimination. Her attorney stated she would be willing to speak publicly if she were granted clemency by President Donald Trump. Maxwell, 64, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. She was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to discuss her relationship with Epstein but chose to invoke her constitutional right instead of answering their questions. A video recording of her deposition revealed her sitting inside a Texas prison, refusing to speak on matters related to Epstein’s co-conspirators, their social circles, and any potential involvement of President Trump in sexual activities facilitated by her or Epstein. Dressed in a plain beige uniform, Maxwell repeatedly stated, “I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence,” leading the committee to end the questioning prematurely.

    Her lawyer, David Markus, emphasized that Maxwell was prepared to speak publicly if clemency was granted, suggesting that both former President Bill Clinton and Trump, both of whom had associations with Epstein, are innocent of wrongdoing and that Maxwell could provide explanations. Maxwell is the sole individual convicted in relation to Epstein’s crimes; Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Her conviction in 2021 involved her role in supplying underage girls to Epstein, who maintained ties with influential business leaders, politicians, celebrities, and academics. This deposition occurs amid the Justice Department’s recent release of millions of documents on Epstein’s case, many heavily redacted, following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), which mandated full disclosure of all related government records, except for personal details of victims.

    Members of Congress gained access to the unredacted files on Monday, but only through secure, in-person visits. Democrat Jamie Raskin remarked that he saw many redacted names of individuals whom he believed to be enablers or collaborators. The Justice Department has indicated no new prosecutions are anticipated. Republican Thomas Massie disclosed that he identified six individuals whose names had been redacted but who likely face incrimination, including one possibly linked to a foreign government. Massie also shared a disturbing email from 2009, discussing a “torture video,” and revealed that billionaire Les Wexner, known for Victoria’s Secret, was listed as a co-conspirator in a child sex trafficking case from 2019, with his name previously redacted.

    The House Oversight Committee has invited Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton to testify about their contacts with Epstein—requests they want to make public to prevent political misuse. Although Trump was once close friends with Epstein, he has not been called to testify by the committee.

  • Lawmaker: Ghislaine Maxwell Will Not Answer Questions in Deposition

    Lawmaker: Ghislaine Maxwell Will Not Answer Questions in Deposition

    Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein, plans to refuse to answer questions during a deposition scheduled for Monday before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, as outlined in a letter from U.S. Representative Ro Khanna on Sunday.

    Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for assisting Epstein in sexually abusing teenage girls and is currently serving a 20-year sentence, intends to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to decline answering all substantive questions, according to Khanna’s correspondence to Committee Chair James Comer.

    Maxwell’s lawyer did not immediately comment on the matter on Sunday.

    Rather than answering individual questions, Maxwell intends to deliver a prepared statement at the start of her deposition, Khanna, a California Democrat on the committee, said without revealing the source of this information.

    “This stance seems inconsistent with Maxwell’s previous behavior, as she did not invoke her Fifth Amendment rights during a prior meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to discuss similar topics,” Khanna stated in his letter seeking clarification about her upcoming testimony.

    Her deposition occurs amidst the U.S. Department of Justice releasing millions of internal documents related to Epstein.

  • Epstein Reverberations Spark Resignations and Investigations

    Epstein Reverberations Spark Resignations and Investigations

    Jeffrey Epstein built an extensive worldwide network comprising politicians, top business leaders, academics and celebrities, many of whom have been heavily tainted by their ties to the convicted sex offender. While prominent figures such as Britain’s former prince Andrew have faced widespread public disgrace, some influential yet less-known individuals have been dismissed, resigned, scrutinized or are under investigation.

    The exposure of someone’s name in the Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice does not automatically suggest any illegal activity on their part. Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting a minor and died in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors.

    Borge Brende, a member of the World Economic Forum’s board, which organizes the Davos summit, has called for an independent review of his interactions with Epstein. Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister, admitted to attending dinners with Epstein in New York during 2018 and 2019, claiming he was “completely unaware” of Epstein’s criminal conduct.

    Thorbjorn Jagland, ex-Prime Minister of Norway and former Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, is under police investigation for “suspicion of aggravated corruption,” stemming from numerous email exchanges linked to Epstein.

    Mona Juul, a Norwegian diplomat involved in the secret Israeli-Palestinian Oslo negotiations, has been suspended pending an investigation into her alleged relations with Epstein. Epstein’s will allocated $10 million to Juul’s two children with her hubby, diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry said Juul, who is currently serving as the Norwegian envoy to Jordan, is temporarily relieved of her duties until the probe concludes.

    Dean Kamen, the innovative American engineer best known for inventing the Segway, has taken a leave from the robotics group he founded, FIRST. Newly released Epstein documents feature photos of Kamen with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for trafficking underage girls to Epstein. The files also show an email where Kamen thanked Epstein for a 2013 visit to his private Caribbean island.

    Brad Karp, a prominent American lawyer and former chairman of the law firm Paul Weiss, stepped down after 18 years in the role. In emails, Karp expressed gratitude to Epstein for hosting a 2015 dinner at his Manhattan mansion, describing it as “an evening I’ll never forget.” He stated he regrets socializing with Epstein and in an email even asked Epstein for help in securing a job for his son in a Woody Allen film.

    Miroslav Lajcak, Slovakia’s national security adviser, resigned after messages in the Epstein files revealed discussions about women. Lajcak was serving as foreign minister at the time.

    French film producer and ex-actor Caroline Lang, whose father was former French Culture Minister Jack Lang, stepped down as head of a film producers’ organization after her family’s Epstein links surfaced. Lang said that she and Epstein had discussed establishing a company to purchase art, though she did not invest. Her father, Jack Lang, stated he was introduced to Epstein by Woody Allen roughly 15 years ago and was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities.

    Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, age 92, who was instrumental in brokering the 1998 peace agreement ending Northern Ireland’s conflict, had his name removed from Queen’s University Belfast’s Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice due to his Epstein connections. Mitchell apologized for having met Epstein but insisted he had no knowledge of any illegal behavior.

    Producer Steve Tisch, who co-owns the New York Giants and produced “Forrest Gump,” was linked to multiple women through Epstein’s email exchanges. Tisch admitted to a brief association with Epstein involving emails about adult women, plus discussions on movies, philanthropy, and investments. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell indicated that the league would review all the facts before deciding on any disciplinary action.

    Casey Wasserman, head of the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympics, faced calls to resign after flirtatious emails with Maxwell from 2003 came to light. Wasserman expressed regret over the exchanges, which occurred before Epstein’s criminal activities became publicly known.

    These revelations continue to ripple through the reputation of influential individuals, many of whom now grapple with questions about their past associations and the potential implications of their ties to Epstein.

  • Famous Faces and Hidden Pages

    Famous Faces and Hidden Pages

    The US Department of Justice has started releasing a highly anticipated batch of documents related to its investigation into the controversial case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. However, much of the material is heavily redacted, raising questions about transparency.

    Included in the released materials are numerous photographs featuring former President Bill Clinton and other notable figures such as Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson, who were linked to Epstein’s social network.

    Many of these documents are obscured by extensive blackouts, and the release was tightly controlled by officials from the Trump administration. This has fueled skepticism over whether the disclosures will quell conspiracy theories about a potential high-level cover-up.

    For example, a 119-page document labeled “Grand Jury-NY” is completely redacted, and a list of 254 masseuses has all their names hidden behind thick black bars, with notes stating the redactions are to protect potential victims.

    Despite these redactions, the files provide some insight into Epstein’s close associations with affluent, influential individuals, including former President Donald Trump, who was once a friend.

    Some of the images released are particularly striking. They include photos of Maxwell with disgraced Prince Andrew, with Maxwell lying across several people’s laps, and a young-looking Clinton relaxing in a hot tub in another blacked-out image. There are also images of Clinton swimming with a woman resembling Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

    The White House quickly responded, with Communications Director Steven Cheung posting on X that Clinton’s appearances in the documents were being highlighted to suggest awareness or involvement. Clinton’s spokesperson, Angel Urena, countered by emphasizing that the country deserves transparency and answers, and accused the White House of attempting to hide these files to protect individuals, not for legitimate reasons.

    Critics, including some Republicans, argue that the release does not fulfill the legal obligation set forth by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated that all case files be made available to the public by that Friday, except where legal or privacy concerns apply. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie condemned the release as a failure to comply with the law’s intent.

    Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that Democrats will explore all options to ensure the truth comes out. Former President Trump also played a role, having tried to prevent the release while in office. Although he once promised full transparency, he later dismissed the effort as a “Democrat hoax,” and a memo from his Justice Department in July claimed there would be no further disclosures, a move Trump later reversed due to mounting pressure.

    Despite the partial release, only Maxwell has been convicted in connection with Epstein’s crimes—she received a 20-year sentence for recruiting underage girls for Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 under circumstances ruled a suicide. Authorities continue to withhold some evidence tied to ongoing investigations to protect the identities of Epstein’s numerous victims.

  • Epstein Associate: No Memory of Trump in Any Inappropriate Setting

    Epstein Associate: No Memory of Trump in Any Inappropriate Setting

    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.

  • Trump admin urges judges to unseal Epstein, Maxwell grand jury records

    Trump admin urges judges to unseal Epstein, Maxwell grand jury records

    Donald Trump’s administration requested that two judges release grand jury testimony that led to the indictments of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on sex trafficking charges. This move comes as Trump aims to ease concerns over how his administration has handled the case.

    On July 18, the Justice Department initially asked the court to allow the public release of transcripts from witnesses’ confidential testimony from years earlier in these cases. However, judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer in Manhattan responded, wanting more detail on the legal grounds for the request.

    In late-night court filings, prosecutors argued that releasing these transcripts would serve the public interest, given the widespread attention the Epstein case has received and ongoing scrutiny of federal law enforcement’s actions.

    The Epstein case has fueled conspiracy theories for years. Recently, Trump faced demands to disclose documents related to federal investigations into Epstein and Maxwell. Epstein died by hanging in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges; officials concluded his death was a suicide, and Epstein’s plea deal in 2008 for soliciting prostitution is widely viewed as too light. Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate, was convicted in 2021 and is currently serving a 20-year sentence in Florida. She is appealing her conviction to the Supreme Court, asserting innocence.

    Trump mentioned earlier this month that he instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue the release of grand jury transcripts, responding to the Justice Department’s conclusion that Epstein died by suicide and that no incriminating list of clients exists.

    This decision has upset some of Trump’s conservative supporters, who suspect the government is hiding ties Epstein had to wealthy and influential figures and believe Epstein was murdered in prison.

    Grand juries, which hold secret proceedings to decide whether enough evidence exists to indict suspects, typically keep their records sealed. Only under specific circumstances can transcripts be made public.

    Even if the judges approve the release, it’s uncertain whether the public would gain new insights, as Maxwell’s 2021 trial already included testimonies from victims, associates, and law enforcement officials.

    The transcripts wouldn’t include all the files the government possesses, as investigators often pursue leads or interview potential witnesses who might not testify before a grand jury.

    In Florida, a judge denied the administration’s effort to unseal records from 2005 and 2007 grand jury investigations into Epstein, citing the lack of qualifying exceptions.

    Epstein’s 2008 plea deal for solicitation of prostitution was seen as lenient, and he was sentenced to 13 months. Recently, Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former personal lawyer for Trump, met with Maxwell for two days to discuss any information she might have about others involved in crimes. Neither Maxwell’s attorney nor Blanche has shared details about those discussions.