Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of Jeffrey Epstein, recently underwent nine hours of interviews with Department of Justice (DOJ) officials, including Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, under a grant of limited immunity. The sessions, which took place over two days on July 24 and 25, 2025, at the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, saw Maxwell answering questions about approximately "100 different people" connected to Epstein's sex trafficking network. Maxwell reportedly initiated these meetings to provide information on the ongoing Epstein investigation.
The "limited immunity" granted to Maxwell is a form of "proffer immunity," a standard practice in criminal cases designed to encourage cooperation. This protection ensures that statements made by Maxwell during these interviews cannot be used directly against her in new criminal prosecutions, provided she tells the truth. However, this immunity does not shield her from potential charges if she is found to have lied during the interviews, nor does it affect her existing 20-year sentence or ongoing appeal.
Maxwell's attorney, David Markus, confirmed his client's full cooperation, stating she "answered every single question asked of her over the last day and a half" honestly and truthfully. Markus emphasized that Maxwell "never invoked a privilege" and "never refused to answer a question." Despite the extensive questioning, Markus noted that "there have been no asks and no promises" regarding her current legal situation, though he acknowledged Maxwell would welcome clemency.
The interviews have drawn significant political and public attention, occurring amidst heightened calls for transparency regarding the Epstein case files. The House Oversight subcommittee recently voted to subpoena the DOJ for these files, and lawmakers have also moved to subpoena Maxwell to testify before Congress. Senator Chuck Schumer expressed strong concerns, stating the meeting "stinks of high corruption and conflict of interest," while President Trump commented on the possibility of a pardon, indicating he was "allowed to do it" but "hadn't thought" about it.
Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking and is appealing her conviction to the Supreme Court. The DOJ's decision to engage with Maxwell, a high-profile convicted figure, underscores the ongoing efforts to fully uncover the scope of the Epstein network and identify other potential perpetrators involved in his illicit activities.