The Department of Justice has been in the news throughout the week, both for its management of Epstein’s investigation and in its search for a house of former Trump National Security Advisor.
Scott Simon, host:
Occupied Friday for the Department of Justice. Yesterday morning, the FBI agents registered the home and the office of former National Security Advisor Donald Trump, and now his prominent critic, John Bolton. Years later, hours later, the department published transcripts of his recent interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, the former associate of the sentenced sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein. The NPR justice correspondent, Ryan Lucas, joins us. Ryan, thanks for being with us.
Ryan Lucas, byline: Thank you for inviting me, Scott.
Simon: And let’s start with Ghislaine Maxwell. Remind us why the Department of Justice spoke with her first.
Lucas: Then Maxwell is a ex -girlfriend and, as you said, for a long time associated with Epstein. He is currently serving a 20 -year sentence for sexual trafficking and other positions to help Epstein exploit the minor girls. Now, official number 2 in the Trump Department of Justice, President’s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, Hey sat for a two -day interview with Maxwell in Florida last month, and did it because the Department of Justice is trying to retouch the public setback.
Simon: Does anything stand out from those transcripts for you?
Lucas: Well, there is some important revelation. Many of the famous names that have appeared over the years in relation to Epstein appear. But in a moment, Maxwell tells Blanche that he never saw any man do anything inappropriate with a woman of any age while he was with Epstein. And he also said that Epstein did not have a list of customers, that is not a black book, and that he did the blackmail associates.
Simon: Now, Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein were friends for years before they had an apparent fight. What did she say about Donald Trump?
Lucas: Then, Maxwell told Blanche that he never saw Trump do anything inappropriate. She said he was never in an inappropriate environment. She also said this.
(Archived recording soundbite)
Ghislaina Maxwell: And as far as I’m concerned, President Trump was always very cordial and very child for me, and I just want to say that I find: I admire his extraordinary achievement to become president now, and I like it.
Lucas: Now, his lawyer says that Maxwell told the truth in this interview, but here there are a couple of things for beer in mind. One is that Maxwell, as I said before, is serving a 20 -year prison sentence. He would very like a reduction in that prayer or forgiveness. The only man who can deliver that is President Trump. The other thing is that, he remembers, a federal jury in New York heard evidence about the role of Maxwell who prepares girls for Epstein to a sexual exploit, and condemned her for that evidence.
Simon: Do you think transcription and audio recordings will convince those who doubt that the department is open about Epstein’s case?
Lucas: It’s hard to imagine, but we’ll see what effect this has. Many skeptics because to see the complete files of Epstein. Now, the Department of Justice sent some of those files to the Chamber’s Supervision Committee on Friday. That was in response to a summons. Now, those files will not be made public immediately. The Republican President of the Committee says that the panel will review them to ensure that the identities of the victims and any child sexual abuse material first.
Simon: Finally, Ryan, the search for the FBI of the house and the office of John Bolton, what can he tell us?
Lucas: Then, Vice President JD Vance has said that this is related, at least, to classified documents. Now, Bolton, as he pointed out on top, is a very open critic or president. And this search for their home and office, there are only a couple of weeks after the Department of Justice opened Trump’s two -high criticisms. That is the Senator of California Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James. So this will only deepen the concerns about whether the Department of Justice is using its huge powers to pursue the campaign or promised vein of President Trump against his perceived political enemies.
Simon: NPRS Ryan Lucas. Thank you so much.
Lucas: Thank you.
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