A newly surfaced DOJ interview with Ghislaine Maxwell shows she alluded to connections between Jeffrey Epstein and senior Trump officials, but prosecutors failed to follow up on her claims.

At a Glance

• DOJ released transcripts from a 2022 interview with Ghislaine Maxwell
• Maxwell referenced Epstein’s ties to multiple Trump administration figures
• Investigators did not press for further details or names
• Survivors’ attorneys were not present during the questioning
• Critics allege the interview was designed to avoid sensitive revelations

Disclosures Without Depth

Newly unsealed transcripts from a 2022 Department of Justice interview with Ghislaine Maxwell show that she suggested Epstein maintained links with senior Trump administration officials—but federal prosecutors did not pursue follow-up questions. The interview, part of a post-conviction debriefing session, was conducted while Maxwell was awaiting transfer to a federal prison in Florida.

Maxwell reportedly made veiled references to “several people in the White House” whom Epstein had “kept close contact with,” but when asked to elaborate, prosecutors instead shifted topics. The decision to avoid pressing Maxwell for names, associations, or specific incidents has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and legal observers.

Watch now: FULL GHISLAINE MAXWELL INTERVIEW: Jeffrey Epstein Accomplice Grilled By DOJ About Trump, Clinton · YouTube

A Curious Lack of Curiosity

The absence of follow-up has sparked outrage from survivor advocacy groups, many of whom had long demanded a transparent investigation into Epstein’s broader network. Legal representatives for Epstein’s victims noted they were not informed of Maxwell’s DOJ debriefing and were not given a chance to participate or respond to her statements.

Federal officials have not explained why the interview was limited in scope. Critics suggest the format was deliberately constrained to prevent exposure of politically sensitive information. “It reads like a performance, not a prosecution,” said one attorney involved in earlier litigation against Epstein’s estate.

Political Blind Spots

The timing of the interview—during the final months of President Biden’s second year in office—has prompted further questions about institutional hesitancy to revisit associations between Epstein and Republican power brokers. Maxwell’s brief but pointed references to Trump-aligned figures were not included in any DOJ summary reports or public briefings.

Several members of Congress have announced their intent to subpoena the full video recording of the Maxwell interview. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) has called for an oversight hearing into DOJ conduct during both the Maxwell and Epstein investigations.

In response to renewed pressure, a DOJ spokesperson said the department “continues to assess relevant materials” and “remains committed to pursuing accountability where warranted.” To date, no criminal charges have been brought against any Epstein associate outside of Maxwell.

Sources

The Guardian
NPR
ABC News
Yahoo News
CNN