The Daily Populous Saturday July 26th, 2025 morning edition
Authored by abcnews.go.com and submitted by AudibleNod

FILE - Audrey Strauss, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, during a news conference in New York on July 2, 2020.

Ghislaine Maxwell, who sources told ABC News initiated the meetings with the Department of Justice, answered questions for about nine hours over two days after being granted a limited form of immunity, the sources said.

The immunity allowed Maxwell to freely answer Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's questions without fear that her responses could later be used against her, the sources said.

The so-called proffer immunity is commonly granted to individuals prosecutors are seeking to make cooperators in a criminal case. Maxwell has already been tried, convicted and sentenced for sex trafficking underage girls.

FILE - Audrey Strauss, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, during a news conference in New York on July 2, 2020. John Minchillo/AP

DOJ did not immediately respond to request for comment. A lawyer for Maxwell did not immediately respond.

The second meeting between Maxwell and Blanche lasted for about three hours.

Maxwell's attorney, David Markus, told ABC News afterward, "There have been no asks and no promises."

Markus said Maxwell was asked about "maybe 100 different people" during her interview with the deputy attorney general. He said she answered every question.

"She didn't hold anything back," Markus said.

He declined to be specific about who Maxwell was asked about or whether she provided information about others who might have allegedly committed crimes against victims, as Blanche said he was seeking.

"We haven't asked for anything. This is not a situation where we are asking for anything in return for testimony or anything like that," Markus added on Friday. "Of course, everybody knows Ms. Maxwell would welcome any relief."

Blanche didn't speak to reporters upon his arrival at the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida. On social media, Blanche said he would reveal what he learned from Maxwell "at the appropriate time."

The first meeting between Maxwell and Blanche on Thursday lasted six hours.

Maxwell is currently appealing her 20-year prison sentence for child sex trafficking and other offenses in connection with Epstein, the deceased financier and convicted sex offender.

"We don't want to get into the substance of the questions," Markus had said about Thursday's meeting. "There were a lot of questions and we went all day and she answered every one of them. She never said 'I'm not going to answer,' never declined."

It is almost unheard of for a convicted sex trafficker to meet with such a high-ranking Justice Department official, especially one who used to be the president's top criminal defense attorney.

ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce asked President Donald Trump on Friday if clemency is on the table for Maxwell.

"I can't talk about that now because, you know, it's a very sensitive interview going on," Trump responded. He went on to call Blanche a "great attorney" and said "I don't know exactly what's happening. But I certainly can't talk about pardons."

Trump was also pressed by ABC News' Bruce if he can trust what Maxwell is telling the DOJ during these interviews.

"Well, he's a professional lawyer. He's been through things like this before," Trump said, referring to Blanche.

After Trump's comments on Friday about clemency, ABC News asked Maxwell's attorney whether that gave her an incentive to tell Blanche what he wanted to hear.

"No," Markus answered. "She wants to tell the truth."

Markus said Maxwell's legal team has not approached Trump about a pardon, but suggested it could happen in the future.

"We haven't spoken to the president or anyone about a pardon just yet. And listen, the president this morning said he had the power to do so we hope he exercises that power in the right and just way," he said.

Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche look on as US President Donald Trump (not on frame) speaks during a news conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on June 27, 2025, in Washington, DC. Andrew Caballero-reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Annie Farmer, who testified against Maxwell at trial, questioned why Maxwell was granted a meeting with the deputy attorney general in the first place.

"It's very disappointing that these things are happening behind closed doors without any input from the people that the government asked to come forward and speak against her in order to put her away," Farmer said. "There were so many young girls and women that were harmed by her."

Maxwell's attorney said on Friday she's been treated poorly for the last five years and is grateful to be able to meet with Blanche as she appeals her sex trafficking conviction and seeks to leave prison.

"If you looked up scapegoat in the dictionary, her picture would be next to the definition," Markus said. "She's keeping her spirits up as best she can."

Blanche's meetings with Maxwell comes as the Justice Department has tried to quiet calls from Senate Republicans to release more information about Epstein and his interaction with high-profile figures.

And it comes as questions swirl about Trump's connections to Epstein and reports that his name appeared in the Epstein files.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump in May that his name was mentioned in the Epstein files multiple times, along with other high-profile people.

Trump has denied that account, and appearing in the files is not necessarily indicative of any wrongdoing.

"I want all the information out," said Republican Sen. Josh Hawley.

"Just put everything out, make it as transparent as you can," echoed Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.

The Justice Department said earlier this month that it planned to release no additional information despite an earlier commitment to do so.

ChicagoAuPair on July 25th, 2025 at 22:23 UTC »

This level of corruption surpasses Nixon’s by magnitudes—and it is over child rape, not political opportunities and money. Fucking insane. I know we have lost most all perspective as a country at this point, but this is fucking beyond bananas horror

brokencreedman on July 25th, 2025 at 22:17 UTC »

The fact that anyone is even remotely talking about a pardon for her is disgusting and proof that Trump is complicit.

Release the Epstein list!

DrewDown94 on July 25th, 2025 at 22:11 UTC »

If I saw this play out in a movie, it would break my suspension of disbelief.