Additional Coverage:
Ghislaine Maxwell’s legal team is pushing back against the Justice Department’s efforts to unseal her grand jury testimony. In a court filing Tuesday, her attorney, David Markus, argued against the potential release, emphasizing that Maxwell “has no choice but to respectfully oppose” the motion.
Markus’s filing highlighted that while Jeffrey Epstein is deceased, Maxwell is not, and her due process rights must be protected. He argued that public interest in Epstein cannot justify violating grand jury secrecy, particularly given Maxwell’s ongoing legal challenges to her conviction.
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking minors. She maintains she should have been protected by a non-prosecution agreement offered to Epstein and alleged co-conspirators nearly two decades ago.
The Supreme Court will decide whether to hear her case in September.
A source familiar with the matter revealed that Maxwell did not implicate former President Trump in any wrongdoing during her interview with the Justice Department. This interview, conducted by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, was recorded, as is standard practice. The Justice Department confirmed the existence of both an audio recording and a transcript.
Maxwell’s attorneys claim she hasn’t had the opportunity to review the grand jury materials herself. Markus’s filing criticized the government for making Maxwell “the face of [Epstein’s] crimes” after his death and for seeking to unseal “untested, hearsay-laden grand jury transcripts.”
Last week, the Justice Department acknowledged that the transcripts contain testimony from only two law enforcement officers and no alleged victims. They also stated that much of the information in the transcripts has already been made public during the trials or through victims’ public statements. The government has requested until August 8th to decide whether to also unseal grand jury exhibits.
Meanwhile, Epstein accuser Annie Farmer’s lawyers are also seeking the release of the transcripts, arguing it’s crucial for public understanding of the crimes and those who facilitated them. They recommend redacting victims’ names but caution against excessive redactions regarding other individuals mentioned.
Two other unnamed victims echoed the call for transparency while emphasizing the need to protect victims’ identities. Epstein’s estate has taken no position on the matter.
Finally, sources indicate that Trump administration officials are discussing the potential release of portions of Maxwell’s conversations with Blanche. The Justice Department has indicated it will release more information at the appropriate time.
While the specific topics discussed remain undisclosed, Markus stated Maxwell answered all questions posed to her about “100 different people.” A White House spokesperson dismissed reports of the potential release as an attempt to create news from old news.
Former President Trump recently stated he supports releasing everything, but with consideration for protecting individuals from unnecessary harm.