There's Only One Conclusion to Draw From Trump's Newfound Leniency for Ghislaine Maxwell
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Last month, the Department of Justice's response to the Jeffrey Epstein saga culminated in an incredibly bizarre move: The Federal Bureau of Prisons transferred a convicted sex offender to a minimum security prison. The special treatment given by the Trump administration to Ghislaine Maxwell is a travesty of justice. It also suggests only one conclusion: A rotten deal between Trump's DOJ and Epstein's accomplishment to keep quiet in exchange for preferential treatment.
The treatment is, ultimately, not surprising, given how the Trump administration has handled Maxwell in recent months. From her private meeting with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former Trump defense lawyer, to her abrupt transfer to a cushy minimum-security prison, everything about the Trump administration's conduct appears designed to shield Trump from fallout in the Epstein sex scandal, which involved more than 1,000 victims.
This favoritism would have been difficult to imagine even a few years ago. On Dec. 29, 2021, a federal jury found Maxwell guilty of five felony counts, including conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and sex trafficking of a minor. On June 28, 2022, she was sentenced to 20 years in jail and a fine of $750,000.
Maxwell claimed (and continues to claim) that she was scapegoated for actions carried out by Epstein. But Judge Alison Nathan, in sentencing Maxwell, stated that “Ms. Maxwell is not being punished in place of Epstein or as a proxy for Epstein.” The judge found that Maxwell “over the course of many years participated in a horrific scheme to entice, transport, and traffic underage girls, some as young as 14, for sexual abuse by and with Jeffrey Epstein.” Judge Nathan also said that Maxwell herself had engaged in sexual abuse and that “the damage done to these young girls was incalculable.”
According to CNN , “federal prosecutors amassed millions of records during the sex trafficking investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.” The MAGA world has long called for the public release of these records.
On Feb. 21, in response to a question of whether the Justice Department would release the list of Epstein's clients, Attorney General Pam Bondi said , “It's sitting on my desk to review.” But on July 6, a two-page DOJ/FBI memo stated that a comprehensive review found there was no incriminating “client list,” no evidence of prominent individuals being blackmailed, and no basis to investigate uncharged third parties. Then, on July 23, the Wall Street Journal reported that Bondi had informed Trump in the spring that he was mentioned in the Epstein files. Perhaps not coincidentally, it's been nothing but obstruction from the Trump administration since they found this information.
On July 24 and 25, Blanche personally interviewed Maxwell. It is strange for a deputy attorney general, particularly one who previously served as a criminal defense attorney to the president, to travel to a correctional facility for direct interviews with convicted criminals. Blanche had no involvement in the Maxwell criminal case, but nevertheless interviewed Maxwell alone . No one involved in the case was present.
Days after the Blanche meeting, and without any explanation, Maxwell was surprisingly moved from her Florida prison to a minimum-security federal prison “camp” in Texas that is also known as “Club Fed .” This is a prison camp that does not house sex offenders, nor those with the 20-year sentence Maxwell has.
The unexplained move to this prison “camp” is extremely suspicious and has raised the appearance of a deal being made by Blanche and Maxwell's attorney, a friend of Blanche. Sex offenders are basically barred from minimum‑security camps. Bureau of Prisons policy requires inmates convicted of sex offenses to be housed in low-security facilities at minimum, unless a waiver is approved. Such waivers for sex offenders are extraordinarily unusual .
On top of all this, public reports, video, and other evidence document that Trump was a long-time friend of Epstein . Trump reportedly took at least eight trips on Epstein's private jet between 1993 and 1997. In 2002, Trump told New York magazine that Epstein was “a terrific guy” and “a lot of fun to be with.” Epstein said that “I was Donald's closest friend for 10 years.”
Trump was also a friend of Maxwell . Following her arrest and jailing, Trump said “I just wish her well, frankly.” Trump recently refused to rule out a pardon for Maxwell, and made sure to say that he has the power to grant a pardon .
Maxwell reportedly told Blanche that Trump had never done anything in his presence that would have caused concern. Assuming that this is all Maxwell said, it is a very limited statement. It does not extend to a myriad of things Maxwell might have known about what Trump did but that were not done in his presence. This statement certainly does not rule out the possibility that Maxwell may have some leverage over Trump. The DOJ is certainly acting as though she does.
Ultimately, Trump and the Justice Department have entirely ignored the victims of Maxwell and Epstein, showing no interest in or concern about the women who as minors were subject to horrific and traumatic sexual abuse crimes. It is hard to escape the conclusion that President Trump just wants the Epstein controversy to go away. Even if it takes a pardon of Maxwell or other actions, he appears ready and willing.
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