DOJ meets with Ghislaine Maxwell: 'She answered every single question'

Justice Department officials met Thursday with Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, at the Florida prison where she’s serving a 20-year sentence. 

The meeting in Florida is part of an ongoing Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent following fierce backlash from parts of President Donald Trump’s base over an earlier refusal to release additional records in the Epstein investigation.

The meeting comes a day after The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s name is in the Epstein files multiple times, and that Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump about his mentions in May. Many high-profile people were also named in the files, according to WSJ, and being named does not mean there was any wrongdoing. 

FILE - From left, Donald Trump and his girlfriend (and future wife), former model Melania Knauss, financier (and future convicted sex offender) Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach,

Why did DOJ with Ghislaine Maxwell? 

What they're saying:

In a social media post Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Trump "has told us to release all credible evidence" and that if Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the Justice Department "will hear what she has to say."

"Ms. Maxwell answered every single question. She never stopped, she never invoked a privilege, she never declined to answer. She answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability," attorney David Oscar Markus told reporters outside the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, where Maxwell met with Blanche.

Markus said his team was "thankful" the deputy attorney general came to question Maxwell, calling it a "good day."

Asked if his client could potentially receive a pardon or see her prison term reduced, Markus said: "There’s no promises yet. So she’s just answering questions for now."

A lawyer for Maxwell confirmed on Tuesday there were discussions with the government and said Maxwell "will always testify truthfully."

RELATED: Justice Dept. told Trump he is named in Epstein files, WSJ reports

Why is Ghislaine Maxwell in prison? 

The backstory:

Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence and is housed at a low-security federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida. She was sentenced three years ago after being convicted of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls.

Officials have said Epstein killed himself in his New York jail cell while awaiting trial in 2019, but his case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwell’s links to famous people, including royals, presidents and billionaires.

Epstein, under a 2008 non-prosecution agreement, pleaded guilty in Florida to state charges of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. That allowed him to avert a possible life sentence, instead serving 13 months in a work release program. He was required to make payments to victims and register as a sex offender.

In 2019, Epstein was charged by federal prosecutors in Manhattan for nearly identical allegations.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department said it would not release more files related to the Epstein investigation, despite promises that claimed otherwise from Attorney General Pam Bondi. The department also said an Epstein client list does not exist.

What's next:

The House Committee on Oversight issued a subpoena on Wednesday for Maxwell to testify before committee officials in August.

A subcommittee on Wednesday also voted to subpoena the Justice Department for documents related to Epstein. And senators in both major political parties have expressed openness to holding hearings on the matter after Congress’ August recess.

The Source: This report includes information from The Associated Press and previous LiveNow from FOX reporting. 

Crime and Public SafetyU.S.