Ghislaine Maxwell was granted a limited form of immunity, during her 9 hour interrogation lasting two days, by deputy attorney general Todd Blanche, as per sources cited by ABC news.
The immunity deal, known as proffer immunity, meant Maxwell could answer questions without the risk of her responses being used against her later, according to the sources. This type of immunity is typically offered to individuals prosecutors may want to turn into cooperators in ongoing criminal investigations.
Maxwell, former girlfriend of infamous Jeffery Epstein, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for trafficking underage girls, has already been tried, convicted and sentenced.
The first meeting, which took place on Thursday at the federal courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, lasted six hours. A second meeting the next day ran for about three hours. Her attorney, David Markus, confirmed to ABC News that Maxwell had initiated the meetings with the DOJ and was questioned about “maybe 100 different people”.
“She didn’t hold anything back,” Markus told ABC news. “There have been no asks and no promises.”
Markus declined to name the individuals Maxwell was questioned about or confirm whether she provided information about others who may have committed crimes. “We haven’t asked for anything. This is not a situation where we are asking for anything in return for testimony or anything like that,” he added on Friday. “Of course, everybody knows Ms Maxwell would welcome any relief.”
Blanche did not address reporters upon arrival at the courthouse, but stated on social media that he would disclose what he learned from Maxwell “at the appropriate time.”
Maxwell is currently appealing her conviction in relation to her involvement with the deceased financier and convicted sex offender
Jeffrey Epstein. Markus said of the initial Thursday session, “We don’t want to get into the substance of the questions.”
“There were a lot of questions and we went all day and she answered every one of them. She never said ‘I’m not going to answer,’ never declined.”
It is rare for someone convicted of sex trafficking to meet with a justice department official of Blanche’s rank. Blanche, notably, once served as President Donald Trump’s lead criminal defence attorney.
When ABC White House Correspondent Mary Bruce asked Trump on Friday whether clemency for Maxwell was being considered, he replied, “I can’t talk about that now because, you know, it’s a very sensitive interview going on.” Trump went on to describe Blanche as a “great attorney” and said, “I don’t know exactly what’s happening. But I certainly can’t talk about pardons.”
Asked whether Maxwell could be trusted to tell the truth in her DOJ interviews, Trump said, “Well, he’s a professional lawyer. He’s been through things like this before,” referring to Blanche.
Annie Farmer, one of the women who testified against Maxwell at trial, expressed disappointment over the meetings. “It’s very disappointing that these things are happening behind closed doors without any input from the people that the government asked to come forward and speak against her in order to put her away,” she said. “There were so many young girls and women that were harmed by her.”
Maxwell’s lawyer said she had been treated poorly over the past five years and welcomed the chance to speak with Blanche as she continues to appeal her conviction.
Blanche’s meetings with Maxwell come as the justice department faces increasing pressure from Senate Republicans to release more details about Epstein’s activities and his connections with high-profile figures.