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| Ghislaine Maxwell interview transcripts released by US justice department | Ghislaine Maxwell interview transcripts released by US justice department |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Maxwell denied many of the theories that have become focal points of conspiracy theories about the Epstein case. | Maxwell denied many of the theories that have become focal points of conspiracy theories about the Epstein case. |
| Ghislaine Maxwell, the jailed associate of sex offender Jeffery Epstein, has told US officials she did not witness any inappropriate conduct by Donald Trump or former President Bill Clinton. | |
| The Trump administration has faced pressure to disclose information about Epstein, who the US president was previously friendly with. | |
| Maxwell was interviewed from prison in July and, according to the newly released transcript, told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche that a much-discussed Epstein "client list" does not exist. | |
| She also called allegations of Prince Andrew having sexual relations with an underage girl in Maxwell's home "mind-blowingly not conceivable". | She also called allegations of Prince Andrew having sexual relations with an underage girl in Maxwell's home "mind-blowingly not conceivable". |
| Maxwell is seeking a pardon from Trump and has been accused of lying to federal officials. | Maxwell is seeking a pardon from Trump and has been accused of lying to federal officials. |
| Shortly the interview with Blanche - who previously worked as Trump's personal attorney - she was moved from her from a Florida prison to a new minimum-security facility in Texas. It is unclear why the move was made. | |
| She is currently serving a 20-year sentence in a sex-trafficking scheme, and has petitioned the US Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. Her lawyer has said they would "welcome" a pardon from the president. | |
| The White House has been adamant that "no leniency is being given or discussed" in Maxwell's case. | The White House has been adamant that "no leniency is being given or discussed" in Maxwell's case. |
| Trump has maintained that he fell out with Epstein in 2004. | Trump has maintained that he fell out with Epstein in 2004. |
| The president has accused his political opponents of using the case to distract from what he sees as his administration's victories. | The president has accused his political opponents of using the case to distract from what he sees as his administration's victories. |
| But he has also faced pressure from his own Republican Party for more transparency around investigations of Epstein. | But he has also faced pressure from his own Republican Party for more transparency around investigations of Epstein. |
| What Maxwell transcript revealed | What Maxwell transcript revealed |
| In the transcripts - which amount to 300 pages, some heavily redacted - Maxwell said that while she believed Trump and Epstein were friendly "in social settings", she did not think they were close friends. | In the transcripts - which amount to 300 pages, some heavily redacted - Maxwell said that while she believed Trump and Epstein were friendly "in social settings", she did not think they were close friends. |
| "I actually never saw the president in any type of massage setting," she said - alluding to the massage services that some Epstein victims have mentioned. "The president was never inappropriate with anybody." | "I actually never saw the president in any type of massage setting," she said - alluding to the massage services that some Epstein victims have mentioned. "The president was never inappropriate with anybody." |
| "In the times I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects," she added. | "In the times I was with him, he was a gentleman in all respects," she added. |
| She also said she did not recall Trump sending Epstein a 50th birthday note in 2003, which drew recent headlines after the note was reported in the Wall Street Journal. | She also said she did not recall Trump sending Epstein a 50th birthday note in 2003, which drew recent headlines after the note was reported in the Wall Street Journal. |
| In the interview, Blanche also asked Maxwell about the alleged "client list" of high-profile personalities that has become the object of conspiracy theories in recent years. | In the interview, Blanche also asked Maxwell about the alleged "client list" of high-profile personalities that has become the object of conspiracy theories in recent years. |
| Maxwell was asked about several well-known figures, including Bill Gates, Elon Musk, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, actor Kevin Spacey, model Naomi Campbell and Prince Andrew - whom she denied she introduced to Epstein. | Maxwell was asked about several well-known figures, including Bill Gates, Elon Musk, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, actor Kevin Spacey, model Naomi Campbell and Prince Andrew - whom she denied she introduced to Epstein. |
| The list of his high-profile associates had become a focal point for conspiracy theorists who insisted that it was being kept hidden by the "deep state" to protect prominent participants in Epstein's crimes. | The list of his high-profile associates had become a focal point for conspiracy theorists who insisted that it was being kept hidden by the "deep state" to protect prominent participants in Epstein's crimes. |
| Several figures in Trump's administration - including FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino - repeated those claims in the past, although they have since backtracked. | Several figures in Trump's administration - including FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino - repeated those claims in the past, although they have since backtracked. |
| "There is no list," Maxwell said. | "There is no list," Maxwell said. |
| She also spoke about Prince Andrew, whose relationship with Epstein eventually led to his stepping down from royal duties. | She also spoke about Prince Andrew, whose relationship with Epstein eventually led to his stepping down from royal duties. |
| She called it a "flat untruth" that she'd been the one who introduced the Duke of York to Epstein. | She called it a "flat untruth" that she'd been the one who introduced the Duke of York to Epstein. |
| "First of all, let's just state, I did not introduce him to Prince Andrew," she said. | "First of all, let's just state, I did not introduce him to Prince Andrew," she said. |
| She spoke at length of Epstein's relationship with both Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. | She spoke at length of Epstein's relationship with both Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. |
| Prince Andrew has previously said that Maxwell introduced him to Epstein. But Maxwell said she believed it was the duchess who was responsible. | Prince Andrew has previously said that Maxwell introduced him to Epstein. But Maxwell said she believed it was the duchess who was responsible. |
| When approached by the BBC about Maxwell's claim, Sarah Ferguson's representatives declined to comment. | When approached by the BBC about Maxwell's claim, Sarah Ferguson's representatives declined to comment. |
| Maxwell also spoke about Prince Andrew's alleged relationship with a woman whose name has been redacted in the transcript. | Maxwell also spoke about Prince Andrew's alleged relationship with a woman whose name has been redacted in the transcript. |
| She said she found the allegations against the Duke of York "mind-blowingly not conceivable", partly due to the size of her house where the events allegedly took place. | She said she found the allegations against the Duke of York "mind-blowingly not conceivable", partly due to the size of her house where the events allegedly took place. |
| She was also asked about a "famous photo" of Prince Andrew and the unnamed woman, with Maxwell in the background. She told Blanche this photo was fake. | She was also asked about a "famous photo" of Prince Andrew and the unnamed woman, with Maxwell in the background. She told Blanche this photo was fake. |
| The prince was accused by Virginia Giuffre, who is not named in the transcript, of sexually abusing her when she was 17. He denied the allegations but reached a financial settlement with her in 2022, which contained no admission of liability or apology. | The prince was accused by Virginia Giuffre, who is not named in the transcript, of sexually abusing her when she was 17. He denied the allegations but reached a financial settlement with her in 2022, which contained no admission of liability or apology. |
| A widely circulated photo shows him alongside Giuffre with Maxwell in the background. Andrew has previously disputed its authenticity. | A widely circulated photo shows him alongside Giuffre with Maxwell in the background. Andrew has previously disputed its authenticity. |
| Giuffre took her own life earlier this year. Her family has condemned the justice department for interviewing Maxwell and said she is a "monster" whose testimony cannot be trusted. | Giuffre took her own life earlier this year. Her family has condemned the justice department for interviewing Maxwell and said she is a "monster" whose testimony cannot be trusted. |
| According to Maxwell, she first befriended Epstein in 1991, and subsequently developed a sexual relationship with him. | According to Maxwell, she first befriended Epstein in 1991, and subsequently developed a sexual relationship with him. |
| Even after that relationship ended, she said she was still paid by Epstein - up to $250,000 (£184,782) a year by 2009 - and remained "friends with benefits". She added that their relationship was "almost non-existent" between 2010 and his death. | Even after that relationship ended, she said she was still paid by Epstein - up to $250,000 (£184,782) a year by 2009 - and remained "friends with benefits". She added that their relationship was "almost non-existent" between 2010 and his death. |
| Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. | Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. |
| "I do not believe he died by suicide, no," Maxwell said when asked, although she added that she did "not have any reason" to believe that he had been killed in a bid to silence him. | "I do not believe he died by suicide, no," Maxwell said when asked, although she added that she did "not have any reason" to believe that he had been killed in a bid to silence him. |
| "It's ludicrous," she said of theories that he was murdered. "I also happen to think if that is what they wanted, they would've had plenty of opportunity when he wasn't in jail." | "It's ludicrous," she said of theories that he was murdered. "I also happen to think if that is what they wanted, they would've had plenty of opportunity when he wasn't in jail." |
| "And if they were worried about blackmail or anything from him, he would've been a very easy target," she added. | "And if they were worried about blackmail or anything from him, he would've been a very easy target," she added. |
| Earlier this year, reports emerged that Trump had been told by US Attorney General Pam Bondi that his name appeared in the official files of the investigation into Epstein . | Earlier this year, reports emerged that Trump had been told by US Attorney General Pam Bondi that his name appeared in the official files of the investigation into Epstein . |
| Trump has never been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the case - and on the campaign trail last year said he would publicise more information about the case. | Trump has never been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the case - and on the campaign trail last year said he would publicise more information about the case. |
| But he reversed his position several months into his administration, saying the case was closed, and criticised supporters and journalists who continued to press him on it. |