CNN legal analyst Paula Reid was taken aback Thursday evening at the announcement made by the Justice Department following a day of questioning convicted Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell — a move that experts have already regarded as suspicious.
"I know you have some breaking news here as we're learning more about what happened, possibly in this meeting between Ghislaine Maxwell and attorneys from the DOJ," said anchor Erin Burnett. "What are you learning?"
"For the first time, we are hearing from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche about the status of this ongoing conversation with Ghislaine Maxwell," said Reid. "He said, today, 'I met with Ghislaine Maxwell and I will continue my interview of her tomorrow. The Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time."
"Erin, this is huge because there were a lot of questions about why the number two official who runs the sprawling Justice Department was taking any time to travel down to Florida to have this conversation," Reid continued. "And now the fact that this interview, which lasted most of today, is going to go into a second day, that is really significant. I mean, that tells you that this is a lengthy conversation. But what we don't know is the substance of this conversation, because earlier today, when her lawyer spoke with reporters, he said he would not comment on the substance of what she offered or what she was asked."
Open questions remain, Reid said.
"What, if anything, is the administration willing to offer her? And what would she still have of value that she wouldn't have shared when she was facing this 20-year prison sentence? And even if she does have something to offer the government, why should she be believed? This is a convicted sex trafficker, someone who has had serious issues with credibility in the past. Even any attempt to make a deal with her is questionable and will result in blowback from victims."
Despite all this, she added, "The fact that it's going to go into a second day, we're just learning, that is big."
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