President Donald Trump's deputy attorney general – and former criminal defense attorney – Todd Blanche will seek a meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed her deputy to reach out to Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence on sex trafficking crimes related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, after the Department of Justice kicked up a firestorm of MAGA anger with a statement earlier this month disputing conspiracy theories about the case.
"Justice demands courage," Blanche posted on X. "For the first time, the Department of Justice is reaching out to Ghislaine Maxwell to ask: what do you know? At @AGPamBondi’s direction, I’ve contacted her counsel. I intend to meet with her soon. No one is above the law — and no lead is off-limits."
Bondi issued a lengthier statement, also attributed to Blanche, on her own X account.
"This Department of Justice does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead," the post states. "The joint statement by the DOJ and FBI of July 6 remains as accurate today as it was when it was written. Namely, that in the recent thorough review of the files maintained by the FBI in the Epstein case, no evidence was uncovered that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties."
Bondi had claimed earlier this year to have a "client list" sitting on her desk, but the joint statement claimed that evidence did not exist and disputed conspiracy theories about Epstein's 2019 suicide in jail while awaiting trial on new charges.
"President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence," Blanche said in the statement posted by Bondi. "If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say."
"Therefore, at the direction of Attorney General Bondi, I have communicated with counsel for Ms. Maxwell to determine whether she would be willing to speak with prosecutors from the Department," Blanche added. "I anticipate meeting with Ms. Maxwell in the coming days. Until now, no administration on behalf of the Department had inquired about her willingness to meet with the government. That changes now."
Maxwell's attorney David Oscar Markus confirmed Blanche's statement on a possible meeting but did not provide details about terms or conditions.
“I can confirm that we are in discussions with the government and that Ghislaine will always testify truthfully," Marcus told CNN. "We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case.”
