The Department of Justice has made public the transcripts and audio recordings from its interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, a former associate of the late Jeffrey Epstein. The interview, conducted by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, took place over two days in late July. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking charges.

During the interview, Maxwell described her interactions with former President Donald Trump, stating he was always "very cordial" and kind to her in social settings during the 1990s. She characterized Trump's relationship with Epstein as friendly but not particularly close. "I never witnessed the President in any inappropriate setting in any way. The President was never inappropriate with anybody," she said.

Maxwell's comments come amid heightened scrutiny of the Trump administration's transparency regarding the Epstein files. The DOJ recently turned over a batch of documents related to Epstein to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, following a subpoena from the panel. This release included thousands of pages of documents, along with the transcript of Maxwell's interview.

The Oversight Committee's request for the Epstein files was prompted by public outcry over a memo from the DOJ and FBI that stated no further information would be released regarding Epstein's case. This memo led to accusations from both conservatives and Democrats, with some alleging that the government was protecting powerful individuals linked to Epstein's abuse of young women and underage girls.

In her interview, Maxwell also addressed her relationship with former President Bill Clinton, whom she referred to as a friend. She denied ever witnessing Clinton in any inappropriate situations or receiving massages. "I don't believe he did," she said when asked if Clinton ever received a massage.

The release of the interview materials is part of ongoing investigations into Epstein's activities and the individuals associated with him. The House Oversight Committee plans to review the documents to ensure that any identifying information about victims is redacted before making them public. Chairman James Comer stated, "This is sensitive information. We want to make sure we don't do anything that harms or jeopardizes any victims involved in this. But we're going to be transparent."

As the investigation continues, the DOJ's handling of the Epstein files remains a focal point of political debate, with calls for full transparency from various lawmakers. The situation is evolving, and further updates are expected as more information is released.