Today's News: Epstein Saga Continues as DOJ Interviews Ghislaine Maxwell

President Trump has addressed questions about a potential pardon for Maxwell and the release of Epstein-related files, facing pressure from both political allies and opponents.

Terrence Dorsey

Jul 25, 2025

Photo: SDNY/Zuma Press

Date: July 17 - July 25, 2025
Topic: Ongoing Developments and Political Fallout in the Jeffrey Epstein Case
Summary: The Jeffrey Epstein saga continues to dominate political discourse, marked by Ghislaine Maxwell’s two-day interviews with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding additional individuals involved in Epstein’s sex crimes. President Donald Trump has addressed questions about a potential pardon for Maxwell and the release of Epstein-related files, facing pressure from both political allies and opponents for greater transparency. Congressional efforts to compel the release of documents and Maxwell’s testimony are also underway, while historical details about Epstein’s connections, including a controversial birthday book, continue to surface. The issue has become a point of contention between political parties, with varying interpretations of motives and responsibilities.

Sources

Key Points

Ghislaine Maxwell’s Cooperation with DOJ: Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice, underwent two days of interviews with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in Tallahassee, Florida. Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, stated that Maxwell answered all questions honestly and truthfully, without invoking privilege, and discussed approximately 100 different individuals.
President Trump’s Position on Pardon and Files: President Trump has stated he has not considered pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell but acknowledges his authority to do so. He has also downplayed the significance of the Epstein case, suggesting it is a distraction from his administration’s achievements and accusing Democrats of a “con job.”
Calls for Transparency and Congressional Action: There is significant bipartisan pressure for the Trump administration to release more unclassified records related to Jeffrey Epstein. The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed both Maxwell for a deposition and the Justice Department for Epstein-related files.
Justice Department’s Stance on “Client List”: The Justice Department and FBI have indicated that a “systematic review” did not uncover a “smoking-gun” client list of other powerful individuals involved in Epstein’s crimes, despite earlier statements from Attorney General Pam Bondi suggesting such a list existed.
Political Weaponization of the Issue: The Epstein case has become a political battleground. Democrats like Rep. Ro Khanna view the release of files as crucial for restoring public trust in government and as a strategic tool to challenge President Trump and his MAGA base. Conversely, President Trump and some Republicans accuse Democrats of using the issue for political distraction and to undermine his administration.
Ongoing Legal Challenges for Maxwell: Maxwell is actively appealing her 2021 conviction to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that a prior plea agreement with Epstein should have protected her. Her legal team is also considering filing a new federal habeas case based on alleged government misconduct. Federal judges have denied requests to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein’s cases.

Unique Highlights

Rep. Ro Khanna’s Political Strategy: NBC News details Rep. Ro Khanna’s explicit strategy to leverage the Epstein files to “fight Trump effectively” and appeal to the MAGA base by framing the issue as one of trust in government and transparency. Khanna specifically challenged Vice President JD Vance for his perceived shift on the issue, contrasting their visions of American identity.
Jeffrey Epstein’s 2003 Birthday Book: The Wall Street Journal exclusively reports on the contents of a leather-bound birthday album given to Epstein in 2003. It reveals specific messages from prominent figures, including a paragraph in Bill Clinton’s “distinctive scrawl,” a disputed letter bearing Donald Trump’s signature with a naked woman outline, and bawdy or crude submissions from others like Leon Black and Nathan Myhrvold.
Expert Analysis on Maxwell’s Options: Fox News provides insights from George Washington University professor Jonathan Turley, who outlined three potential outcomes for Maxwell’s meetings with federal officials, including a DOJ motion for a sentence reduction for a key witness or a commutation from President Trump if she proves highly cooperative.
Trump’s Denial of Briefing on File Inclusion: CNN highlights President Trump’s direct denial of being briefed on his name appearing in Epstein files, despite CNN’s reporting and White House officials' accounts that Attorney General Pam Bondi provided such a briefing in May.
Senate Minority Leader Schumer’s Conflict of Interest Claim: BBC reports on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s strong criticism of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s interview with Maxwell, labeling it a “glaring conflict of interest” and “stinks of high corruption” due to Blanche’s past role as Trump’s personal lawyer.
House Speaker Johnson’s Nuanced Stance: CNN details House Speaker Mike Johnson’s statement that the Epstein case is “not a hoax” and his desire for justice for those involved, while also noting his decision to halt House votes on Epstein-related measures before recess, arguing the administration needed space to act.

Contrasting Details

President Trump’s Awareness of His Name in Epstein Files:
- CNN reports that President Trump “denied again that he was told his name appeared in files tied to the Jeffrey Epstein case,” stating, “No, I was never, never briefed, no.”
- However, CNN also notes that White House officials told them Attorney General Pam Bondi informed the president of his name’s inclusion in the files during a “routine briefing” in May.
- The Wall Street Journal states it reported on Wednesday that Justice Department officials notified President Trump that his name appeared in the government’s investigative files on Epstein.
- BBC mentions The Wall Street Journal’s report on Bondi briefing Trump in May, and while the White House dismissed the WSJ story as “fake news,” an unnamed White House official told Reuters they were not denying Trump’s name appears in the documents.
Authenticity of Trump’s Letter in Epstein’s Birthday Book:
- The Wall Street Journal describes a letter bearing Trump’s signature, with an outline of a naked woman, included in Epstein’s 2003 birthday book.
- Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told The Wall Street Journal that the letter was “a fake thing” and that the President “never wrote it.”
- CNN quotes Trump saying about the letter, “I don’t even know what they’re talking about,” adding, “Now, somebody could have written a letter and used my name, and that’s happened a lot.”
Maxwell Attorney’s Stance on Seeking a Deal/Pardon:
- The Washington Post quotes Ghislaine Maxwell’s attorney, David Oscar Markus, stating that Maxwell “did not seek or agree to any deal with the Trump administration” and “There’s been no asks and no promises.”
- BBC also quotes Markus saying, “This is not a situation where we are asking for anything in return for testimony or anything like that.” However, BBC also quotes him stating, “Of course, everybody knows Ms. Maxwell would welcome any relief.”
- Fox News quotes Markus saying, “We haven’t spoken to the president or anybody about a pardon just yet,” but then adds, “We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way,” implying a desire for a pardon despite the stated lack of direct “asks.”
President Trump’s Role in House Recess to Avoid Epstein Votes:
- CNN quotes President Trump denying any involvement in House Republican leaders' decision to cut their congressional session short, stating, “I was never involved in that.”
- NBC News reports that House Republican leaders decided to recess early, which Democrats claimed was “meant to avoid a floor vote on whether to compel the Justice Department to release Epstein-related files,” implying a strategic move by the Republican leadership that could be perceived as aligning with the White House’s interests, regardless of Trump’s direct denial.

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